BY LERATO PHOSISI
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has issued a blunt reminder that government will not become an open chequebook for every federation and athlete heading overseas, saying the responsibility for financial sustainability now lies squarely with sport boards themselves.
In a statement released today, McKenzie pushed back against what he called “an uninformed narrative” amplified by “lazy federation bosses” and “politicians with no idea of how anything works” who run to the media each time funding is needed.
“Lazy federation bosses who don’t understand their job, and with no ideas on how to further their sport, think this is open season to run to the media to scream the name Gayton McKenzie, hoping it will get them attention, and perhaps even money,” the Minister said.
“Politicians with no idea of how anything works seem to think it will get them votes.”
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture currently supports more than 60 national federations. McKenzie stressed that the allocation is fixed, approved by Parliament, and governed by the Public Finance Management Act. That support, he clarified, is intended to cover basic administration not the full cost of international travel or hosting major events.
“The core responsibility for ensuring the financial sustainability of a sport federation rests with the board elected to govern it,” McKenzie said. “Despite being non-profit entities, federations are expected to operate with similar discipline and foresight as commercial business boards.”
In his words: “If they wish to raise more money, they need to think commercially, and operate commercially. If they do not wish to raise funds to grow their sport, they should accept that they are offering primarily a recreational activity, or even just a hobby interest, to their participants.”
The Minister used basketball as a case study. Despite the sport’s surge in popularity, Basketball South Africa failed, in his view, to build a viable league or attract sponsorship. Following “prolonged governance and administrative failures,” its recognition was revoked. The Department is now working with FIBA Africa and SASCOC to rebuild and stabilize the code.
“Election to a federation board is not a ceremonial appointment. It carries a commercial and fiduciary responsibility exercised on behalf of every athlete in that code,” McKenzie said. “Higher standards must be set for people who put up their hands to run a sport. If they cannot raise the necessary resources, they should step aside for those who can.”
The Department warned that where audited records, compliance and performance show sustained failure, recognition itself “is not beyond consideration.” McKenzie noted that funding is not absent it is prioritized.
This year, the state funded 34 athletes to the Commonwealth Chess Championship in Sri Lanka and 54 athletes to the Africa Youth Chess Championships in Uganda, at a cost of over R4 million. Wrestling South Africa also saw its allocation increased “for all the right reasons.” He pointed out that major codes like rugby, cricket and soccer already fund their own international teams.
“To represent one’s country in a sport is a great honour and a privilege, and it is one federations must continue to realise for as many of our future stars as we can but it is not a right, and to treat it as a right would be irresponsible and unrealistic,” he said.
The Minister called for “greater restraint” from commentators before spreading what he termed a “hyperbolic and entirely impractical narrative” that the state must fund every athlete, for every event, everywhere. While acknowledging that policy and legislation can still improve the operating environment for sport, McKenzie said most requests to the Department are simply for “more taxpayer money.”
For international audiences watching South Africa’s sport ecosystem, the message is clear: government will set the framework, but boards must build the business
