18 December 2025- The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie said he has received with great sadness the news of the passing of Lusanda Dumke, one of South Africaās most respected and influential womenās rugby players. McKenzie said Dumke served her country with distinction, earning 33 Test caps for the Springbok Women and captaining the national side.
He further said she was also a central figure in the rise of the Bulls Daisies, leading them to three successive Womenās Premier Division titles and becoming a symbol of excellence and resilience in the womenās game.
McKenzie added that Dumke will be remembered as a leader who carried the hopes of her teammates and the pride of her nation every time she stepped on to the field.
āShe represented courage, discipline and an unbreakable competitive spirit. We acknowledge that womenās rugby had seen major growth and development during the period that Dumke had dedicated herself to the sport. Her passing, following a battle with a rare form of gastric cancer, had greatly impoverished the rugby community.
āDumke was a role model whose journey inspired young women across South Africa to believe in their place in rugby and in sport more broadly.
āHer passing is a devastating loss to the rugby community and to the country. We honour her contribution, her leadership, and the doors she opened for future generations,ā he said.
McKenzie said they extend their heartfelt condolences to Dumkeās family, friends, teammates, coaches and supporters. He said may Dumkeās legacy continue to uplift and inspire South African sport.
āShe will always be remembered in the hearts of all the women and girls she has inspired,ā said McKenzie.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Buffalo City Constituency Leader and Member of Provincial Leader (MPL), Leander Kruger said: āThey mourn the passing of Springbok Womenās rugby player and Mdantsane trailblazer, Dumke, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 28. South Africa has lost an exceptional athlete, a leader, and a source of inspiration to countless young people, particularly young women who saw in Dumke as a powerful example of what dedication, resilience, and belief can achieve.
āDumkeās journey from Mdantsane to representing South Africa in the green and gold was one of exceptional determination, resilience, and courage. Her impact extended far beyond the rugby field. She was a role model rooted in her community, never forgetting where she came from, and always carrying herself with humility and grace.ā
30 September 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it has noted the commitment made by Minister Gayton McKenzie and Deputy Minister for Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, to the North West MEC for Arts, Sports, Culture and Recreation, Virginia Tlhapi of R13 million over the MTEF period for the refurbishment of the long-neglected Mmabatho Stadium in Mahikeng.
DA spokesperson on Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation in the North West, Wolfgang Wallhorn said this intervention comes after sustained DA pressure, including their statement in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) on 26 August 2025, demanding urgent action, accountability, and investment following Orbit Soccer Clubās promotion to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Wallhorn said Orbit has been forced to play outside the province with Gauteng reaping the economic and social benefits that should rightly belong to North West.
āDuring their oversight visit, the Minister and Deputy Minister confirmed that engineers will return within two weeks to conduct a formal assessment and commission a technical report.
āRepairs will go beyond ablution facilities, seating, and VIP areas to also include the athletics field. The private sector will be brought on board to assist in the refurbishment. Communities were urged to protect government facilities and stop destroying infrastructure,ā he said.
Wallhorn further said the DA stresses that while this funding is national, they will ensure that it does not become another unfunded promise or photo opportunity. He added that to this end, the DA will task their representatives in the National Assemblyās Sports Committee to obtain all relevant information directly from the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture.
āThese actions will allow us to ensure that the commitment is captured in black and white, with proper plans, budgets, and timelines in place.
āThe DA has raised concerns about Mmabatho Stadium since November 2022, pointing out broken ablutions, collapsed seating, inoperative floodlights, leaking roofs, and dysfunctional air-conditioning,ā said Wallhorn.
He said for too long, promises have been made without delivery. Wallhorn said Mmabatho Stadium must become more than a political talking point.
āIt must be transformed into a symbol of renewal, pride, and opportunity for our province. The DA will continue to monitor this project closely to ensure that the long-overdue refurbishment delivers real benefits for athletes, supporters, and communities,ā he said.
Picture: Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie
By OBAKENG MAJE
22 July 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie of strangling grassroots sports, in favour of grand vanity projects that risk grand corruption. The DA said it condemns McKenzieās ārecklessā decision to cut funding to national sports federations, undermining grassroots development and threatening South Africaās Olympic future.
The DA spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture and Member of Parliament (MP), Joe McGluwa said they will move forward with an urgent oversight meeting in the Sports, Arts and Culture Portfolio Committee in Parliament, where McKenzie will have to come and explain his choice to strangle grassroots sport federations.
McGluwa said instead of investing in proven pathways for young athletes, the Minister is diverting funds to grand vanity projects, stripping funding from federations and directing it into these larger, and less transparent projects.
āThe DA cautions loudly and clearly that this shift risks grand scale corruption. Diverting grassroots money to massive vanity projects in the sports space, with expensive bids, secrecy and confidential deal elements will risk a looting frenzy for insiders.
āFor sports to flourish, and for SA to remain competitive, we need grassroots sports development support, funding, capacitating and resourcing – not strangling them in favour of massive international bids, games, and races,ā he said.
McGluwa further said if these grand international sporting events could be courted for South Africa without defunding local sport there would be benefit in them. He added that they may bring fantastic investments into South Africa, but if they defund and strangle local sport federations in the process, they are undermining and damaging local sports possibly irreparably.
āThe damage caused by McKenzieās defunding of local sports is already clear. Olympic codes like athletics and swimming face cuts of up to 60%. SASCOC, tasked by law to coordinate Olympic sport, has been completely defunded, despite receiving just R12 million over three years.
āYoung athletes from the Cape Flats are currently stranded in Europe (Spain or Portugal according to different reports), a tragic symbol of a collapsing system. Without functioning federations, there is no pipeline, no preparation, and no performance so McKenzieās claim of ādirect funding to athletesā is hollow,ā said McGluwa.
He said the sports and arts communities are up in arms and rightfully so. McGluwa said the allocation to this department between the 2024/5 and 2025/6 financial years has not differed more than 1.6%, yet entities are facing cuts of 50-70%.
āAnd to date, McKenzie has not furnished Parliament with the details and schedule of these cuts. He is working in private, in silence, and without oversight or transparency. Despite repeated requests during the departmentās appearance in Parliament, it remains secret.
āIt is time for Parliament and South Africa to be apprised of these simple facts. Where is the money going? The DA has profound concerns as McKenzie defunds sports and arts: This looks like a scheme of patronage dressed up in tracksuits,ā he said.
McGluwa said South African sport deserves much better.
Meanwhile, McKenzie who tabled his departmental budget for 2025/26 financial year said, over the past year, they have seen so many stars in both sports and the arts, both young and experienced, realise their God-granted potential and make us proud to say that we are South Africans. He said they must be honest, though, that what their home-grown talents are achieving is often despite the circumstances they are facing and not because of the platforms they are giving them.
āOur amazing success on the field is too often balanced by the dysfunction we continue to face off the field. Ours is a system that too often still excludes the majority of people in our country, from school age on through their adult lives.
āWe are realising perhaps just 5% of our potential as a country, and still we are winning at just about everything we turn our hands and hearts to. Sipho in Khayelitsha canāt play hockey because the price of a hockey stick comes at the cost of a weekās food for his family. There are many Siphos in South Africa and we face similar challenges in the music industry,ā said McKenzie.
He said they have many successful people whoāve received training in acting, music and singing ā but many more whoāve had to make it by relying on raw talent alone. McKenzie said they are the exceptions.
āImagine if more of us had the chance to hone these great talents, and be guided in expressing them. We have heard from many people over this past year who have been resistant to the changes being brought in this department.
āThey want to see familiar decisions and behaviour. But how can we rely on the old ways of doing things if the old ways have not solved the problems of the past three decades? Change is difficult, but itās necessary ā otherwise Sipho and the other Siphos and Sashas will never play hockey one day for a gold medal at the Olympics,ā he said.
McKenzie said thatās why the budget signifies them trying to start doing things differently. He said these changes will keep coming as they continue to adapt and change how they spend and support their plans to make sport, the arts and culture accessible to all their Siphos, Celines, Salmans and Siyamthandas.
āToday, I want to bring honour to our cricket players, netball heroines, the Springboks, our Olympic squad, our sprinters and runners, our boxing champions, our swimmers, and so many more. Of all the people I met over the past year, Iād like to tell the story of a group of young bulky Afrikaners coming to see me to help popularise their sport, a sport I knew very little or nothing about: strongman.
āI approached many sponsors on their behalf. I worked the phones. Most people were not interested except for SuperSport and Betway. Years after the majority of companies did not give a positive response, most of them were calling me asking to be introduced to the worldās strongest man, Rayno Nel,ā said McKenzie.
3July 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mangaliso Matika said he is proud to announce that he will be joining the provinceās performing artists at the renowned National Arts Festival in Makhanda. Marika said this strategic engagement underscores its ongoing commitment to strengthening support for the performing arts sector and promoting inclusive cultural development in the province.
He further said the National Arts Festival is South Africaās premier platform for artistic excellence, celebrating diverse forms of expression across theatre, dance, music, and visual art. Matika added that, by attending, he will gain valuable insight into the depth of talent within the Northern Cape and the wider national creative industry.
āMy presence at the Makhanda Festival reflects a deliberate effort to engage directly with artists and creative practitioners. This initiative enables the department to better understand the needs and challenges of the sector, helping to shape more responsive and impactful policies.
āExposure to high-level artistic platforms is vital for the development of informed strategies that align provincial efforts with national and global trends in the creative economy. It also reinforces the importance of sustained investment in arts and culture as a catalyst for growth,ā he said.
Matika said the department recognises that investing in the performing arts is not only a cultural imperative, but an economic one. He said events like the Makhanda Festival drive tourism, stimulate local economies and create employment opportunitiesāparticularly for young people and small businesses.
āBy increasing funding for artist development programmes, festival participation, and arts infrastructure, the Northern Cape stands to significantly expand its creative footprint and unlock long-term socio-economic benefits for communities across the province.
āDrama and theatre remain among the most powerful tools for public engagement and social transformation. Through compelling narratives and emotive performances, artists are able to address critical issues such as gender-based violence, corruption, health, and social cohesion,ā said Matika.
He said for the government, this makes drama an essential platform for civic education and community dialogue. Matika said the department continues to support initiatives that use performing arts as a means to communicate government messages, promote awareness, and encourage active citizenship.
āMy visit to the Makhanda Festival is a clear signal of the departmentās commitment to nurturing local talent, enhancing artist visibility, and ensuring that creative voices from the Northern Cape are heard and celebrated on national stages.
āThis engagement represents a step forward in building a more inclusive, well-resourced, and vibrant arts sector that reflects the richness and diversity of the provinceās cultural heritage,ā he said.
10 April 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested the Northern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mangaliso Matika, to investigate the legality of a series of provincial name changes over the past ten years, given the absence of a functional Provincial Geographic Name Change Committee (PGNC) since 2015. The DA said in response to its concerns raised during the 2024/2025 Annual Performance Plan presentation, the department has revealed that the last PGNC term started in 2011 and was extended for another year at the end of 2014.
The DA provincial spokesperson for Sport, Arts and Culture, Reinette Liebenberg, who is also a Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) said there has been no PGNC since 2015, as the department claims that it is difficult to establish the necessary requirements due to the process being coordinated by the office of the MEC. Liebenberg said the DA is concerned that the department may have spent millions on illegally changing geographical names in the province.
āWe have warned the department about this since 2022, when we first found out that the Northern Cape is the only province without a functional PGNC in place.
āMatika now has a duty to probe the legality of the name changes and to hold the department accountable for contravening the South African Geographical Names Council Act 1998 (Act 118 of 1998),ā she said.
Liebenberg further said he must also explain what happened to the filling of the advertised vacancies for board members in 2023, following a commitment by former MEC, Desery Fienies, that positions for board members would be advertised. She added that the DA will further submit questions to determine exactly which names were changed by the department since 2015, how much was spent on the name changes and whether public participation was fairly instituted.
āName changes must not come at an unwarranted cost to the province,ā said Liebenberg.
4 April 2025- The Re Aga Taung Civic Organisation (RATCO) calls on the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie to intervene regarding Taung Cultural Calabash event. The event that always takes place during a heritage month, September, it is now a shadow of itself.
The Chairperson of Re Aga Taung Civic Organisation (RATCO), Modisaotsile Lebitse said the event was scheduled to take place in March 2025, however, that never happened. Lebitse said they are now dejected as artist representatives.
āImmediately when you mention Taung Cultural Calabash, I feel dejected. The truth of the matter is that, we fighting a losing battle and we not going to win. We tried our level best to ensure that the North West Department of Arts, Sports, Culture and Recreation do things right, but we failed.
āI even wrote a letter to the Minister of Arts, Sports, Culture and Recreation, Gayton McKenzie, requesting for his intervention. However, he has not responded yet. However, I am disappointed because he is the most vigorous Minister thus far,ā he said.
Lebitse further said they will again try to communicate with McKenzieās office and understand why he has not responded yet. He added that, they have also written to Afri-forum for assistance too.
āAfri-forum has also not responded, but we will make follow-ups. The issue of Taung Cultural Calabash event needs a probe. There are many issues in the Greater Taung area that need thorough investigations and we will go down to the wire.
āSo, we going back to the drawing board and come up with better strategy on how to approach those issues. Taung Cultural Calabash is a shadow of itself as we speak,ā said Lebitse.
One of the artists in North West, Thapelo Mokhutshoane said, in the heart of the North West province lies a growing frustration and a festering wound in the cultural and creative industries. Mokhutsoane alleged that, a staggering R4 million budget ā allocated jointly by the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation and the National Department of Arts and Culture ā earmarked for the historically significant Taung Cultural Calabash Festival, has slipped into obscurity.
āThe funds, instead of revitalizing the creative economy and preserving one of the provinceās most important cultural heritage events, now sit idle on the brink of reversion to the National Treasury.
āWith no event delivered, no clear accountability, and no viable contingency plan presented, the North West arts community is calling out the glaring injustice and failed leadership that threatens not only the provinceās artists, but the very cultural memory of Taung itself,ā he said.
Mokhutshoane said since its inception, Taung Cultural Calabash has served as a vibrant platform showcasing the diverse tapestry of South Africaās indigenous arts, heritage, and cultural expressions. He said Taung Cultural Calabash is more than a festival as it is a legacy event, deeply rooted in the story of Taung ā a site known internationally for the discovery of the Taung Child fossil, a symbol of human origins and African pride.
āThe festival has always functioned as both a cultural cornerstone and an economic driver for local communities, providing artists with visibility, economic participation, and a vital sense of cultural agency.
āYet in 2024, when the R4 million was set aside to breathe life back into this festival after years of inconsistent support, it became yet another statistic in the ledger of mismanagement and bureaucratic inertia,ā said Mokhutshoane.
He said, initially postponed from late 2024 to March 2025, the festival now sits in limbo, having failed to materialize once more. Mokhutshoane said crucially, no substantive or valid reasons have been communicated to the affected stakeholders ā the artists, vendors, communities, and cultural workers who have long sustained the festival through their creativity and labour.
āWhere is the leadership from the Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation, the very institution entrusted to steward this cultural institution?
āWhere are the explanations from the provincial and national departments, who released these public funds? Most importantly, where is the strategic intervention from the custodians of the provincial creative sector?ā he asked.
Mokhutshoane said if R4m allocation is returned to the National Treasury, the fund will join the ranks of unspent budgets that often indicate either administrative incompetence or systemic neglect. He said this is not merely about an event that failed to take place ā it is about the erosion of trust, the systemic marginalization of artists in the province and a pattern of disempowerment that mirrors the broader crisis facing South Africaās cultural sectors.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Arts, Sports, Culture and Recreation, Virginia Tlhapi said: āWe are going to re-purpose the Taung Cultural Calabash event and we will have a consultative engagement with artists across the province and see how they benefit.ā
Picture: The Northern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mangaliso Matika
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
26 January 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mangaliso Matika, invites nominations for a suitable candidate to represent the Northern Cape to serve on the National Arts Council Board. Matika said in terms of Section 4(1) of the NAC Act (Act 56 of 1997) read with Section 21(a) of the Cultural Laws Amendment Act (Act 36 of 2001) , it specifies that the Council of the NAC shall consist of nine provincial representatives who shall within the province in question by public and transparent process, which shall be determined and overseen by the responsible member.
He further said the nominee should possess special knowledge and experience in the field of Arts, Management, Finance, Human Resource, Legal, Marketing and Liaising, Fundraising and willingness to render community services.
Matika added that the remuneration of the appointed Council Member will be in line with the rates prescribed by the National Treasury.
āAll nominations must be in writing with the following information, a nomination letter containing full names and contact details of the nominee, signed letter of acceptance (of nomination) by the nominee, and a recently updated Curriculum Vitae of the nominees, including 3 contactable references.
āThis includes certified copies of the nomineesā identity document as well as educational qualifications. No nomination will be considered unless all of the above documents are included. Correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates,ā he said.
Meanwhile, nominations should be submitted to the Office of the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture by 7 February 2025.
Picture: The legendary musician, Victor āDoc Shebelezaā Bogopane
By OBAKENG MAJE
10 January 2025- The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie said the passing of the legendary Kwaito artist, Victor āDoc Shebelezaā Bogopane on Thursday at the age of 51, represents a significant loss for South Africa and the entire music industry.
McKenzie said born in 1973 in Soweto, Doc Shebeleza grew up in a family that valued cultural expression. From an early age, he was exposed to diverse musical influences, from kwaito to traditional South African music, which would later shape his artistic journey.
āIn 1995, he released his debut album, Shebeleza, which featured the iconic hit Ghets Ghetsa. This success was followed by the album S’kumfete, which included another hit track of the same name.
āOver the years, he cemented his legacy with three more albums, Tiger (1997), Ebumnandini (2000), and Jiva Yoyo (2001). In recognition of his contributions to the genre, he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards,ā he said.
McKenzie further said Doc Shebelezaās influence extended beyond his own work, as illustrated by rapper Cassper Nyovestās tribute song Doc Shebeleza, which celebrated his lifestyle and impact. He added that, Doc Shebeleza later collaborated with Cassper on the song Monate So, showcasing mutual respect and admiration between generations of artists.
āFollowing his retirement from the music industry, Doc Shebeleza dedicated himself to philanthropy. He founded the non-profit organisation AMAHA (African Musicians Against HIV/AIDS), which focused on social initiatives for the underprivileged.
āThrough AMAHA, he contributed to building hundreds of homes for those in need, distributed wheelchairs, and worked tirelessly alongside other legendary artists to uplift communities,ā said McKenzie.
He said Doc Shebelezaās passion for helping others remained central to his lifeās work until his untimely passing.
āIn recent years, Doc Shebeleza faced health challenges, having been hospitalised twice last year until his tragic passing on 9 January. On behalf of the Ministry, I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and countless fans whose lives he touched.
āSouth Africa has lost not only a music legend but a compassionate soul whose contributions to our cultural heritage and community upliftment will not be forgotten,ā he said.
McKenzie said Doc Shebelezaās music, laughter and legacy will continue to resonate in their hearts.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, Joe McGluwa said: āWe send our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and the music fraternity on the passing of Doc Shebeleza.
āIngwazi brought a fresh perspective and entertainment value to the kwaito genre in the early 2000s. The heavens better be organising something big for our artists, or why would they leave us like this.ā
McGluwa said this sad loss was made worse by the fact that Afro-pop sensation, Winnie Khumalo is yet to be buried.
āDoc Shebelezaās passing is painful as he was destined for so much more than he realised in his young life. He was instrumental in kwaito circles and founded and mentored groups like Amasgumfete.
āHe was a typical musician and entertainer who easily connected with his audiences by melody and dance moves. May his soul rest in eternal peace,ā he said.
Picture: Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie
By BAKANG MOKOTO
9 January 2025- Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton Mckenzie has made a public call for the Proteas cricket team to boycott their International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy match against the Afghanistan menās cricket team next month. McKenzie said this comes on the basis that the Taliban government in Afghanistan allegedly banned womenās sport and disbanded the female cricket team when they came to power in 2021.
He further said this is a position that he feels morally bound to support, despite the deep complications of Afghanistanās recent and tragic history. McKenzie added that, to be clear, the (ICC) has accepted the principle of equality in sport and that member nations should be developing both male and female players.
āThis does not happen in the case of Afghanistan, suggesting that political interference in the administration of sport is being tolerated there. In the same breath, Sri Lanka was banned in 2023 for political interference.
āI am aware that the ICC, like most international sporting mother bodies, professes not to tolerate political interference in the administration of sport, despite its obvious inconsistency with Afghanistan,ā he said.
McKenzie said it is not for him to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honour cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan. He said if it was his decision, then it certainly would not happen.
āAs a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world.
āCricket South Africa, the federations of other countries and the ICC will have to think carefully about the message the sport of cricket wishes to send the world, and especially the women in sports,ā said McKenzie.
He said he hopes that the consciences of all those involved in cricket, including the supporters, players and administrators, will take a firm stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan.
Picture: Protea Women against New Zealand during T20 World Cup Final
By BAKANG MOKOTO
20 October 2024 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, Joe McGluwa has saluted the valiant effort shown by Protea Women for the duration of the Women T20 World Cup in Dubai. McGluwa congratulated the team on behalf of the committee.
He further said the performances in the 2024 World Cup, have created an opportunity for the Proteas from now on to unlock its potential. McGluwa added that this will show the world the countryās untapped potential to win big in the future.
āSouth Africa must hold their heads high for the success they have realised in this yearās tournament. With every participation in global events, our women show unbelievable growth.
āReaching a consecutive final of this tournament was a victory on its own. It is something we should be proud of as a nation. South Africa heroically defeated Australia on Thursday to firmly have a grip on the trophy,ā said McGluwa.
He said they played New Zealand in the final, who set us 158, but South Africa fell just short, despite displaying an unbelievable level of maturity. McGluwa said anything was possible in the finals, and South Africans should be proud of what they have in the Protea Women.
āThe silver medallists for the second tournament running, Protea women should be proud. This is an achievement and evidence that we have given a very good account of ourselves. The success of the South African women across sporting codes is something to marvel at.
āBanyana Banyana are reigning African Champions, and the Springbok Women had recently hosted a successful five nations women tournament featuring Australia, Scotland, Japan, and Italy,ā he said.
McGluwa said from this point, it was upward and onward for these precious ambassadors of the Republic. He said this should serve as an inspiration and spare young women of all races and backgrounds into choosing cricket, from Gugulethu, Eldos, Umlazi, Sandton and even the rural Limpopo.
Meanwhile, New Zealand beat South Africa by 32 runs in a tantalising Women T20 World Cup final.
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