While Gayton McKenzie is expected to brief the media on his 100 Days in Office on Thursday, many are waiting for the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture to set the record straight on his trip to the Paris Olympics.
McKenzie has come under fire recently after revealing in a Parliamentary reply that taxpayers forked out R804,590.71 for his travels in Paris, this despite McKenzie posting on X that he did not attend the Games. He then contradicted his previous comment, admitting that he watched hockey, gymnastics and rugby Sevens matches during the Paris Games.
The minister has gone to great lengths to explain the trip, publicly sharing a letter directed at the acting director-general, saying he did not want five star hotel stays in Paris.
In a bid to ‘clear the air’ over how much his trip cost, McKenzie issued a statement explaining how much everything cost.
According to McKenzie, he attended a UNESCO meeting about the advocation and illustration for social impacts of investment in sport policies and programmes ahead of a ministerial forum.
McKenzie said he also attended and spoke at the ministerial forum and the regional meeting of the African sports ministers.
McKenzie added that he then attended the Commonwealth sports ministers meeting.
McKenzie is expected to attend a press briefing at 11am, where he is set to explain further and also speak about his 100 days in office as a member of the Government of National Unity. The briefing is set to take place at 11am at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg.
IOL Politics