Bafana Bafana super fan Joy ‘Mama Joy’ Chauke and South Africa’s Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie are at loggerheads over the funding of supporters’ trip to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hugo Broos’ Bafana return to the World Cup and are set to participate at the quadrennial global football showpiece to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
They are in Group A, where they will face Mexico in Mexico City and then the Czech Republic in Atlanta, Georgia. South Africa will then return to Mexico to complete their group campaign, but will be in Monterrey to face South Korea.
Travelling fans and those already based in North America are expected to attend matches, backing Broos and his men.
Over the years, Bafana have enjoyed the support of super fans who travel to tournaments supporting the team. Mama Joy, Botha Msila, Masilo Machaka, Diana ‘Lady Dee Iron Lady’ Matli and Mamello Makha are some of the popular super fans.
But the Department of Sports and Culture has indicated they have not allocated a budget to sponsor super fans to North Africa, a development that has irked Mama Joy. The former Orlando Pirates supporter tagged FIFA president Gianni Infantino on X [Twitter] on Sunday as she sent out a begging bowl to be sponsored for the World Cup.
MAMA JOY SAYS BAFANA SUPER FANS ARE ON THEIR OWN
She claimed McKenzie is not interested in sponsoring fans, especially her, suggesting a personal vendetta between her and the Minister. Mama Joy wants McKenzie removed from his ministerial role.
“To all South fans, let’s just accept no World Cup for us. Minister Gayton McKenzie and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture won’t be able to help us,” said Mama Joy. “You are on your own. Let’s just pray for the [SA] president [Cyril Ramaphosa] to give us a new Minister of Sport who loves fans.
“Thanks, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Bafana Bafana has qualified. I would like to be there. I am asking for any help from anyone to help me attend the World Cup 2026. McKenzie won’t pay for fans, especially Mama Joy.”
MCKENZIE CLAPS BACK AT MAMA JOY, REFERS HER TO PAPA JOY
Mama Joy has a French husband who has also turned himself into a super fan, and McKenzie suggests he should fund her trip to America.
“We got you a husband, my sister; let him pay for the love of his life. The Euro is very strong, Frenchmen are known to be romantic, let him pay Sista Joy,” McKenzie said on X.
“Why should I lie using diplomatic language. Our policy is not under review. Should I mislead people by soothing them? We are not going to pay for super fans as a department. It’s unfair because South Africa is full of super fans.”
Fans joined in the engagement, with some expressing displeasure at the possibility of taxpayers’ money being committed to super fans.
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