Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has called out self-proclaimed superfan Mamajoy (real name Joy Chauke), accusing her of having a sense of entitlement. This follows her exclusion from a group of football fans to be sponsored by the government for a trip to North America to watch the FIFA 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and Mexico in June.
McKenzie on Tuesday announced the names of selected fans, who had to submit videos to be considered for the all-expenses-paid trip. Mamajoy has attended every major tournament in which the South African national football team has participated, and this is the first time she has been left out. Her exclusion follows disagreements with the minister over what he believes to be the controversial supporter’s sense of entitlement.
Mamajoy could still attend the tournament after announcing on her X account in April that she had received a sponsorship offer. McKenzie said he has nothing personal against her but emphasised the need to extend benefits to all supporters, not just a select few.
“Me and Mama Joy on social media, we make jokes. You can go and check the history of that. But how do I justify taking Mama Joy for the umpteenth time? I can’t,” said McKenzie.
He added that previous sponsorships for Mamajoy and other well-known superfans were done at excessive cost and excluded other supporters.
“On the last trip, the department spent 800,000 on business-class flights and five-star hotels. The people here are not going on business-class flights. We can send more people with 800,000 than just one person.
Do we want this thing in South Africa where some people think certain opportunities are meant for them? That’s not right. They think things are meant for them, while others must apply and make videos as if they are less important.
These ones get automatic qualification. No, it can’t work like that. It cannot work like that,” said the minister.
“So we’ve got nothing against Mama Joy. But she was posting that she got a sponsor. I was the happiest person. I thought that problem is now solved.
If Mama Joy doesn’t have a ticket and she’s there, I will not leave her outside, because she loves Bafana Bafana. Even if I have to use my own funds — not for a flight ticket — but if she’s at the stadium, my heart wouldn’t allow me to leave her outside, because I know how much she loves Bafana Bafana.
But all these people have an equal right,” he said, referring to the sponsorship Chauke announced in April.
Chauke could not be reached for comment.