EFF statement on lies by Minister of Sports regarding his attendance of the 2024 Olympics and intention to refer him to the Ethics Committee

15 October 2024

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has noted the outright lies by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture and unrehabilitated convict Gayton McKenzie regarding the expenditure on his trip to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

In response to a parliamentary question for written reply, which interrogated him regarding whether he attended the Olympics and the related expenditure thereof, McKenzie outlined a gross misuse of taxpayers money that amounted to R804 590.71.

The expenditure was extensive and is puzzling as the figures and what they relate to seem to expose exorbitant and unethical use of tax payers money.

Figures such as R454 005.00 for ground transportation and R215 976.96 for flights are a staggering revelation of what can only be described as looting, as McKenzie clearly took a large cohort of his associates as these figures could not possibly account for an individual.

Being the clumsy criminal that he is, who is perpetually overwhelmed by social media attention, McKenzie took to social media to deny that he ever went to the Paris Olympic Games, and that he left on the same day of the Olympics. He made this stupid pronouncement forgetting his answer to a Parliamentary question, and exposing himself, because if he spent one day at the Olympics, it then begs the question who was being paid for during that period as outlined in his own answer to a Parliamentary question.

The EFF maintains that Gayton McKenzie is a manifestation of the failure of the South African correctional services to rehabilitate ex-convicts, and his inability to lie coherently proves that he is committed to deceit and swindling the people of South Africa. These are the consequences of appointing criminals into critical positions of governance.

The EFF intends to refer Gayton McKenzie to Parliament's Ethics committee for the possible and likely misuse of state funds for his personal benefit and the benefit of those associated to him. Additionally, for violating his oath of office, as he has on one hand confirmed he attended the Olympics at the expense of the taxpayer, while he has on the other hand stated publicly on social media that he did not attend them."

Issued by Leigh-Ann Mathys, National Spokesperson, EFF, 16 October 2024