Public Protector’s Office to investigate McKenzie’s alleged Olympic trip

McKenzie

Cape Town — Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, is set to be investigated by the Office of the Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka.

In a letter written to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Sinawo Thambo, Gcaleka said the Office would be investigating McKenzie regarding his alleged misuse of funds regarding his trip to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Gcaleka’s office acknowledged Thambo’s complaint that he violated the Code of Ethical Conduct and possibly violated the Minister Handbook.

“The public Protector is investigating a complaint in connection with allegations of a possible violation of the Executive Member’s Ethics Act, 28 of 1998 (EMA) by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, for misuse of public funds on an international trip to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris,” Gcaleka said.

Gcaleka added that according to Section 7(1) of the Public Protector Act conduct a preliminary investigation into the allegations to determine the merits of the complaint and how it should be dealt with.

“The issue for investigation by the Public Protector is whether the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, acted in a manner that is inconsistent with his office by misusing public funds on an international trip to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris,” Gcaleka added.

Additionally, the Office said it envisages that the investigation will not be completed in 30 days, as prescribed by Section 3(2) of EMEA, and President Ramaphosa has been addressed pending the investigation.

“We commit in the circumstances to make every effort to expedite the investigation and will accordingly continue to keep you appraised of same,” Gcaleka concluded.

According to an EFF statement, the party commended the Public Protector for launching the investigation into the irresponsible spending and false claims made by Minister McKenzie.

“We are encouraged by the swift response to a matter that reflects the broader culture of wastefulness and dishonesty within the current government,” EFF spokesperson, Leigh-Ann Mathys said.

The party said McKenzie’s dishonesty, where he denied attending the games and later contradicted himself, said it was symptomatic of the culture of deceit that has plagued the current administration.

“It is a Government of National Unity (GNU) that has aligned itself with corruption, criminals, white monopoly capital and lack of accountability, failing to hold its members to account for their criminality and wasteful actions,” the party added.

The scrutiny intensified as McKenzie disclosed in a parliamentary response that his Olympic trip cost over R800 000. The breakdown is staggering: R215,976 for flights, R113,271 for accommodation, and an alarming R454,005 on ground transport, R592.30 for Insurance and R20 745.72 for Subsistence and Travel Allowance.

The party was concerned about the fact that McKenzie lied about initially attending the games and was later found to be contradicting himself in front of the National Assembly, hence its decision to report the case to the Public Protector’s office.

The party supports the Public Protector’s investigation into whether McKenzie’s actions violate the EMEA and Executive Ethics Code.

“As the EFF, we will continue to monitor the progress of the investigation and remain available to the Public Protector to assist in anyway necessary. The EFF will also continue to fight for accountability and transparency within the public sector, ensuring that public funds are used for their intended purposes and not for the personal benefit of those in power,” the party concluded.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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