A short comment from Sizwe Dhlomo has rekindled discussions about Gayton McKenzie’s financial outlay for the FIFA World Cup. This reaction followed the Sports, Arts and Culture Minister’s release of a comprehensive breakdown of nearly R31 million spent on South Africa’s participation in the World Cup, which drew contrasting feedback from the audience.
Released on Sunday, 19 July 2026, the minister’s itemized account prompted renewed discussions about the delegation’s size, travel expenditures, and the perceived value for taxpayer money. The delegation comprised 18 members, consisting of the minister, support staff, the Director-General, and a project team, representing South Africa across Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
Refer to Gayton McKenzie’s entire spending breakdown here:
Sizwe Dhlomo’s take on Gayton McKenzie’s spending report
As the public deliberated the figures, Dhlomo’s concise response became one of the most shared reactions regarding the issue. He responded to McKenzie’s financial breakdown with a simple yet telling phrase, writing:
“lol!”
View Dhlomo’s post here:
Public reaction to Sizwe Dhlomo’s comment
The South African audience displayed a range of opinions regarding the expenditures, with some praising McKenzie for his openness, while others questioned the justification for such high costs.
Here are a few responses:
@Waltz42747233 commented:
“I appreciate his transparency. I think it’s the first time a minister does this.”
@ntate_kapari remarked:
“Do we really not want a minister to attend the World Cup? Do we really expect him to go just by himself? Hawu mara, you’ve seen the other countries and who they brought, so angazi…”
@HMokwale raised a concern:
“Minister and 2 support staff = R7m. SA Legends involving 27 professionals = R6m. How did we get to this conclusion calculation and allowances of funds?”
@mzitho_10 argued:
“Imagine we are paying for adults to go on holiday while we struggle. We could’ve at least taken kids in the academies who are actually future Bafana players.”
@mariovamba04 stated:
“Transparency is not a substitute for wastefulness. What’s the benefit of such a large delegation? If they’re all there, who mans the office? Or are we also paying for standing allowances?”
@kingwara_SA concluded:
“No one is slapping one another and saying, ‘ Wake up. We’re spending money that could be regenerated to build a top-tier welcoming country instead of using millions like it’s nothing and still being mouthy on manifestos.’”
