Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie recently received backlash from taxpayers, following the reveal that the total cost of his 2024 Olympic attendance, amounted to R800 000.
The minister has since delivered a candid response to the uproar, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: What Gayton McKenzie’s trip to the Paris Olympics cost taxpayers
On Monday, 14 October, information pertaining to the Olympic expenses had been made available to the public.
In a parliamentary meeting, it was confirmed that the total budget to send Team SA to the 2024 Paris Olympics amounted to approximately R28 million.
Included in the budget, were the preparation, support and travel expenses of 146 athletes.
A total R1.8 million of the budget was dedicated to the travelling expenses of eight officials to the international games. The overall trip of McKenzie alone cost a whopping R804 597.
The sports minister defended the overall cost of his trip, claiming that it was ‘not a joyride,’ reports TimesLive.
McKenzie claimed that while in Paris, he attended six meetings prior to the start of the Olympics. This included government meetings with ministers of other countries.
He claims that he visited the athletic village to greet Team SA’s athletes, attended the opening ceremony and watched the hockey, gymnastics and sevens game.
He further stated that he watched the rest of the Olympics on television as he left the day the games had commenced.
‘Stop lying to people’ concluded the sports minister.
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Picture: Frennie Shivambu / Gallo Images
