Minister Gayton McKenzie cleared by Ethics Committee in Mokoena-gate scandal
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie.
Image: File
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie and Deputy Minister of Social Development Ganief Hendricks have been exonerated by Parliament’s Ethics Committee after facing separate allegations of misconduct.
The complaints against McKenzie, filed by Athol Trollip of ActionSA in November 2025, centred on accusations that he provided contradictory statements regarding the controversial “Mokoena-gate” saga, a situation that almost jeopardised Bafana Bafana’s qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The controversy centred on midfielder Teboho Mokoena’s eligibility during a key World Cup qualifier after an administrative blunder by team manager Vincent Tseka.
Trollip argued that McKenzie initially claimed he had called for an investigation into the matter, but later revealed in a parliamentary response that no formal investigation had been launched by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
He further alleged that McKenzie misled Parliament and the public by later stating in media interviews that an investigation had taken place and that “the matter is now closed”.
Trollip also alleged that McKenzie’s contradictory statements undermine the integrity and accountability of Parliament, as “it undermines public confidence in the executive’s commitment to transparency and the principle of ministerial responsibility”.
In a response to the committee, McKenzie denied misleading anyone, saying the South African Football Association (SAFA) had conducted its own investigation and submitted a report to him.
According to the committee report, McKenzie said it would have been inappropriate for his department to conduct its own probe because SAFA falls under FIFA structures. After reviewing SAFA’s findings, McKenzie considered the matter resolved.
The committee accepted McKenzie’s explanation, finding that his parliamentary response was truthful and that he had merely referred to SAFA’s investigation when speaking publicly. The committee said that in light of what McKenzie had explained, it found that his response was truthful.
Deputy Minister Ganief Hendricks.
Image: File
Meanwhile, Hendricks was cleared over comments he made in Parliament in July 2025 regarding hunger and social grants in South Africa.
Fellow MP Alexandra Abrahams lodged a complaint after Hendricks suggested that South Africa would have “zero hunger” if social grants were used to buy food, arguing that his remarks downplayed the country’s food insecurity crisis.
During a later committee meeting, Hendricks defended his comments and maintained that South Africa’s grant system was designed to prevent starvation.
In his submission to the Ethics Committee, Hendricks said his remarks had been misunderstood and that the use of the word “if” in his statement was important context.
He said he intended to highlight that some vulnerable people do not apply for available grants.
The committee found that Hendricks had taken steps to clarify his comments and concluded there was no intention to mislead Parliament.