The Democratic Alliance (DA) is investigating Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie’s failure to secure national support for the World Surf League (WSL) Corona Open in Jeffreys Bay, following its removal from the 2026 Championship Tour calendar.
This was not the sudden withdrawal of an existing grant, but something more damaging, commitments were allegedly made to the World Surf League and local stakeholders that national government support would be forthcoming, commitments that were not honoured when decisions were finalised.
Jeffreys Bay hosted South Africa’s only Championship Tour surf event for several years, with the WSL historically carrying a significant portion of the financial burden with the support of the Kouga Local Municipality to keep the event in South Africa. Despite this long-standing partnership and repeated assurances that government support would be secured, no national commitment ultimately materialised. As a result, New Zealand has now taken over this coveted Championship Tour stop.
This failure has real consequences. The loss of the Jeffreys Bay event strips the Eastern Cape of a flagship international sporting attraction that drives tourism, sustains local businesses and supports jobs across the region in what various stakeholders equate to approximately R150 million in economic impact. It also damages South Africa’s credibility as a reliable host of major global sporting events.
The DA does not accept that the Minister’s public engagements and behind-the-scenes assurances do not translate into action once the spotlight fades. In this case, stakeholders were left exposed, the WSL was left without certainty and South Africa has lost a globally recognised event as a direct result.
The DA will use Parliament to establish:
- why no national funding commitment was finalised despite prolonged engagement and commitment,
- what role, if any, shifting departmental priorities played in this failure,
- whether the economic and employment impact on the Jeffreys Bay community was properly considered and stakeholders engaged, and
- how he intends to prevent further losses of major international sporting events.
South Africa cannot afford governance by press appearance and empty undertakings. If Ministers make promises to sporting bodies and communities, they must deliver, or be held accountable when they do not.
The DA will pursue full transparency from Minister Gayton McKenzie and his Department, and we will not allow the quiet loss of one of South Africa’s most iconic sporting events to be brushed aside.
Note to Editors: Please see correction on the surname of Ms. Leah Potgieter, MP. We regret the error.
Please find the attached audio clip from Leah Potgieter MP, DA Spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture.