Mama Joy demands free World Cup tickets – Gayton says ‘NO’
Mama Joy has expressed her annoyance after Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie has denied her funding to go to the FIFA World Cup.
Months are praising Gayton McKenzie, Mama Joy has called for the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture to be sacked after he denied her free tickets to attend the FIFA World Cup, set to take place in June.
The superfan – real name Joy Chauke – is an unofficial brand ambassador for South African sports. She has previously attended the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, and various AFCON and WAFCON matches, all reportedly via sponsorships.
MAMA JOY SLAMS GAYTON MCKENZIE AFTER WORLD CUP SNUB
On her X account, Mama Joy launched a series of attacks against Gayton McKenzie, who has recently halted sponsored superfan trips.
She tweeted: “To all SA fans, let’s just accept no World Cup for us. @GaytonMcK won’t be able to help us. You are on your own. Let’s just pray for the President to give us a new Minister of Sport who can love fans”
In another post, Mama Joy tagged the FIFA President Gianni Infantino, where she bemoaned Gayton’s snub again.
She posted: “I would like to be there. I am asking for any help from anyone to help me attend the World Cup 2026. Gayton won’t pay for fans, especially Mama Joy”.
In a third, the superfan responded to an Easter message from President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling on him to “intervene” on the Minister of Sport’s decision.
Surprisingly, Gayton replied to Mama Joy’s tweets, mentioning her husband, a French man she married in 2024.
He jokingly responded: “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”.
Gayton echoed his sentiments in an interview with sports broadcaster Robert Marawa.
WHO PAYS FOR HER TRIPS AND TICKETS?
Last July, Gayton McKenzie revealed that the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture would halt sponsored trips for sports supporters.
He tweeted, “I have stopped all trips for super fans. We have athletes and artists who are struggling to raise money to attend sporting events and exhibitions. How do we justify paying for fans? We shall no longer be paying for these trips and will use that money where it’s needed the most.”
Mama Joy’s trips to watch national sports teams play around the world have previously been sponsored via private donors, her own cash and even funds by the Department of Sport.
In 2024, it was revealed that the department spent over R1 million on superfans like Mama Joy and Botha Msila’s travel and accommodation for the Rugby World Cup in France the year before.
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