Picture: The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, Joe McGluwa
By STAFF REPORTER
6 April 2026 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, Joe McGluwa has expressed deep concern and disappointment at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s last-minute postponement of the 2026 Autumn Athletics National School Sport Championships, calling it a clear failure of planning and accountability. McGluwa said the championships were scheduled to take place from 8–12 April 2026, at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
“This postponement is unacceptable. It reflects a failure of basic planning and due diligence. The unavailability of the stadium was foreseeable and avoidable, yet provinces were instructed to proceed with procurement and logistical arrangements.
“As a result, provinces have already incurred significant costs for accommodation, transport, and contractual obligations; costs that now translate into financial losses and reputational damage,” he said.
McGluwa further said this breach of trust is deeply concerning. He added that communities, learners and educators have planned in good faith.
“For many young athletes, this event is the highlight of their sporting year, only to be let down by poor planning. The committee made it clear to the Athletic South Africa last week when the entity appeared before the committee, that sport is not a luxury.
“Sport is a constitutional commitment to youth development, equity, and social cohesion, and a means of living if one reaches the top echelons of professionalism. When planning collapses at this scale, it undermines the very purpose of national championships,” emphasised McGluwa.
He said the committee has demanded full accountability from the department. McGluwa said they require a clear explanation of how this lapse occurred, immediate clarity on revised dates and venue, and a concrete plan to compensate provinces for the financial strain already incurred.
“This failure goes beyond logistics. This is about respect – respect for our youth, our educators, and the communities that carry the weight of school sports in our country. We call on both the department of Sport, Arts and Culture, and the Department of Basic Education to manage national school sport with discipline, foresight.
“National school sport must be administered with professionalism, coordination and respect for provinces and stakeholders. On behalf of the committee, we wish all athletes, including private clubs participating in various sporting codes over this Easter Weekend good luck and he appealed to everyone to remain safe on the roads,” he said.
Picture: Athletics from Curro partaking in South African Schools Athletics Championship/Generic
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
6 April 2026 – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo said it has engaged Limpopo MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Jerry Maseko over serious concern regarding the uncertainty and apparent mismanagement surrounding the 2026 South African Schools Athletics Championship, which is scheduled to take place from 8–11 April at the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg. The DA said conflicting communication from national authorities and organising bodies has left learners, parents, coaches, and provincial departments in a state of confusion.
DA Limpopo spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture and Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Advocate Franco Marx said while the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has purportedly indicated that the event has been postponed due to the unavailability of the venue, other stakeholders have suggested that no final decision has been made. Marx said this lack of coordination is deeply troubling.
“Learners from Limpopo, many of whom have trained tirelessly to compete at this prestigious event, are now faced with uncertainty at the eleventh hour. This comes at the back of last year’s disappointment in Bloemfontein coupled with the failures of the primary school athletic championship event in Cape Town last month, caused by the Limpopo department.
“Equally concerning is the financial impact on the Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, which has already incurred significant costs relating to travel, accommodation, and logistical arrangements,” he said.
Marx further said this situation raises serious questions about planning, communication, and accountability at a national level. He added that major events of this nature require proper coordination and confirmed venues well in advance, not last-minute cancellations that place undue strain on provinces and unfairly disadvantage young athletes.
“Maseko has indicated that he is aware of the situation and has further committed to issuing a formal statement on behalf of the department as soon as there is clarity regarding the way forward.
“The DA will continue to monitor this matter closely and will not hesitate to demand accountability should it emerge that poor planning or negligence has resulted in financial losses or prejudice to Limpopo’s learners,” said Marx.
He said they call on Maseko to urgently provide clear, consistent communication and a definitive way forward to affected athletes in Limpopo.
Picture: The Junior District Commissioner, Junior Visible Policing (Vispol) Coordinator and Junior District Operational Commander/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
26 February 2026- The Pixley ka Seme District Commissioner, Major General Nomana Mtukushe, hosted the Junior Commissioner Project on 24 February 2026, at the De Aar Town Hall. Relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Education, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Old Mutual and Standard Bank, officiated a public speaking competition in which 20 learners delivered impromptu speeches addressing Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) and its impact on society.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said during their presentations, learners committed themselves to eradicating bullying in schools and tackling issues that contribute to crimes against women and children. Ehlers said following the presentations and a thorough adjudication process, 4 Junior Commissioners were elected, including the Junior District Commissioner, Junior Visible Policing (Vispol) Coordinator and Junior District Operational Commander.
“These young leaders will serve as ambassadors for the organisation and will actively promote safety and security within their respective schools and communities,” she said.
Picture: The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayston McKenzie
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
3 February 2026- The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayston McKenzie said South Africa has expressed its willingness to support the Confederation of African Football (CAF) if required, should alternative hosting arrangements for the 2026 WAFCON become necessary. McKenzie provided clarity on the matter following remarks made by his Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe at the Hollywoodbets Super League Awards regarding the 2026 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
He further said these engagements form part of ongoing discussions initiated by CAF as it considers various contingencies in line with the confederation’s responsible stewardship of the continental game. McKenzie added that, at this stage, no formal decision has been taken to relocate the tournament and Morocco remains the officially designated host of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
“CAF has not yet triggered any alternative hosting process. Any potential hosting of the tournament by South Africa would be subject to established government and football governance processes, in partnership with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and other stakeholders, including formal confirmation from CAF that alternative hosting arrangements are required, approval through the relevant Cabinet processes, confirmation of host cities, stadium availability, accommodation and transport capacity and the conclusion of the necessary government guarantees and operational agreements.
“The remarks made by the Deputy Minister reflect government’s longstanding engagement on supporting African football and South Africa’s confidence in its proven ability to host major international sporting events. They do not constitute a formal confirmation or assumption of hosting responsibilities,” he said.
McKenzie said the department, with SAFA and stakeholders, will continue to engage with CAF in a structured and responsible manner. He said any further announcements will be made only once all required processes have been concluded and formal decisions taken.
“The Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture will continue to pursue a long-term strategy of hosting major sporting events to boost sport, tourism, economic growth and the image of the country on the world stage,” said McKenzie.
2 February 2026- The Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture mourns the passing of one of South Africa’s most influential cultural voices, Dr Diana Ferrus. The department said Ferrus’ poetic brilliance and unwavering commitment to justice, identity and reconciliation have left an enduring legacy in South African literature and cultural life.
The Northern Cape MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mangaliso Matika said Ferrus was a gifted author, poet and mentor whose iconic poem for Sarah Baartman restored dignity and sparked national reflection, contributing meaningfully to South Africa’s journey of healing and unity. Matika said her work earned recognition both nationally and internationally.
“She played a vital role in nurturing literary talent in the Northern Cape through her involvement in Writers Festivals held in the Province, where she guided and supported aspiring writers and authors with generosity and passion.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, fellow writers and the broader arts community. We honour her remarkable contribution to arts and culture, and her legacy will continue to inspire future generations,” he said.
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 Africa’s most respected and influential women’s 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 Women’s Premier Division titles and becoming a symbol of excellence and resilience in the women’s 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.
“She represented courage, discipline and an unbreakable competitive spirit. We acknowledge that women’s 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.
“Dumke was a role model whose journey inspired young women across South Africa to believe in their place in rugby and in sport more broadly.
“Her 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,” he said.
McKenzie said they extend their heartfelt condolences to Dumke’s family, friends, teammates, coaches and supporters. He said may Dumke’s legacy continue to uplift and inspire South African sport.
“She will always be remembered in the hearts of all the women and girls she has inspired,” said McKenzie.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Buffalo City Constituency Leader and Member of Provincial Leader (MPL), Leander Kruger said: “They mourn the passing of Springbok Women’s 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.
“Dumke’s 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.”
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 Club’s 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.
“During 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.
“Repairs 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,” 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 Assembly’s Sports Committee to obtain all relevant information directly from the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture.
“These actions will allow us to ensure that the commitment is captured in black and white, with proper plans, budgets, and timelines in place.
“The DA has raised concerns about Mmabatho Stadium since November 2022, pointing out broken ablutions, collapsed seating, inoperative floodlights, leaking roofs, and dysfunctional air-conditioning,” 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.
“It 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,” 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 McKenzie’s ‘reckless’ decision to cut funding to national sports federations, undermining grassroots development and threatening South Africa’s 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.
“The 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.
“For 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,” 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.
“The damage caused by McKenzie’s 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.
“Young 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 McKenzie’s claim of “direct funding to athletes” is hollow,” 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%.
“And 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 department’s appearance in Parliament, it remains secret.
“It 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,” 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.
“Our 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.
“We 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 can’t play hockey because the price of a hockey stick comes at the cost of a week’s food for his family. There are many Siphos in South Africa and we face similar challenges in the music industry,” said McKenzie.
He said they have many successful people who’ve received training in acting, music and singing – but many more who’ve had to make it by relying on raw talent alone. McKenzie said they are the exceptions.
“Imagine 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.
“They 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 it’s necessary – otherwise Sipho and the other Siphos and Sashas will never play hockey one day for a gold medal at the Olympics,” he said.
McKenzie said that’s 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.
“Today, 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, I’d 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.
“I 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 world’s strongest man, Rayno Nel,” 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 province’s 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 Africa’s 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.
“My 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.
“Exposure 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,” 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 opportunities—particularly for young people and small businesses.
“By 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.
“Drama 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,” 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.
“My visit to the Makhanda Festival is a clear signal of the department’s commitment to nurturing local talent, enhancing artist visibility, and ensuring that creative voices from the Northern Cape are heard and celebrated on national stages.
“This engagement represents a step forward in building a more inclusive, well-resourced, and vibrant arts sector that reflects the richness and diversity of the province’s cultural heritage,” 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.
“We 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.
“Matika 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),” 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.
“Name changes must not come at an unwarranted cost to the province,” said Liebenberg.
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