Gayton McKenzie faces scrutiny over 19 PA-linked appointments to arts and culture boards

At least 19 PA-linked individuals have reportedly been appointed to boards and directorates overseeing arts and culture institutions, prompting fresh questions over political influence and governance.

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie is facing renewed scrutiny over the appointment of at least 19 people with links to his Patriotic Alliance (PA) to boards and directorates of public entities under his department.

An investigation found that the appointees were PA members or people with direct access to the party’s leadership, with appointments spanning institutions including the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), National Library of South Africa (NLSA), National Arts Council, Boxing South Africa and several theatres and museums.

The appointments are significant because some of the positions involve decisions over the management and funding of public entities, productions, programmes and festivals.

The remuneration attached to the positions ranges from about R14 000 to R80 000 a year, according to the News24 investigation.

Among those identified in connection with the appointments are people serving on the NFVF council for the 2024-2027 term, including Tony Ferreira, Simon Clarke, Omphemetse Mokgosi, Siphosethu Mtamzeli and Andrea Gordon.

The Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) adjudication panel has also come under scrutiny, with Steve Motale, Vernon Vraagom and Francisco Tejada among those identified in relation to the 2025/26 panel.

The panel was responsible for assessing applications for almost R110 million in MGE funding for artists, festivals and cultural organisations.

The appointments have drawn renewed criticism from the Democratic Alliance, which has accused McKenzie of using public institutions to advance the interests of political insiders.

DA MP and Sport, Arts and Culture spokesperson Leah Potgieter said South Africans deserved opportunities based on merit rather than political connections.

“South Africans deserve a fair shot, not jobs for political insiders. The DA will not let Gayton McKenzie escape the rules and the law on this disgraceful cadre deployment. Government must work for all, not just the connected,” Potgieter said.

“At least 19 senior government jobs are occupied by Gayton’s own insiders, not by independent, non-political experts. Are South Africans to be excluded by McKenzie at every turn?” she said.

Potgieter said the DA had previously raised concerns about what it described as cadre deployment under McKenzie, including the appointment of PA members to the MGE adjudication panel and positions at institutions such as the NLSA and Boxing South Africa.

The latest allegations follow a complaint the DA lodged with Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka in July, calling for an investigation into whether McKenzie breached the Executive Ethics Code through appointments linked to the allocation of public funds.