Mama Joy and Machaka
JOHANNESBURG - Soccer super-fan Joy 'Mama Joy' Chauke took to social media on Monday calling for Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie to be fired.
This is after McKenzie said the department would not fund her trip to the Fifa World Cup. The Fifa World Cup is set to take place between 11 June and 19 July co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
The Department of Sports Arts and Culture says they have no plans to pay for super fans. This is after McKenzie said there would be competition and other initiatives to help fans go to the World Cup.
In 2024 McKenzie said the department would stop trips for super fans and focus on funding athletes.
MamaJoy Chauke on the funding for her previous World Cup tournament trips and feeling like she's being targeted by Minister Gayton McKenzie... #snawa pic.twitter.com/6lYuONwYKN
— SPORTS NIGHT AMPLIFIED with ANDILE (@SNAWA_MetroFmSA) April 6, 2026
The Minister said many South African athletes struggle to raise funds for sporting events and exhibitions. The money would be redirected where it is most needed.
During a Parliamentary questions, the department said there were plans to get fans to go to the World Cup, however, there was no money allocated to it yet.
During an interview with Metro FM on Monday, Chauke said the department had never paid for her before.
READ: US confirms Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica as co-hosts for 2031 Women's World Cup bid
Chauke was a Pirates super fan until 2021. She later joined Royal AM where she said she wanted something that felt like family, either than money.
In the height of her popularity, she received a paid trip to the Rugby World Cup in Parish. She wouldn't declare who paid for the trip.
She also alleged that the President Cyril Ramaphosa paid for a trip for her in his his personal capacity.
Now, however, she demanded that the Sports department pay for her trip to the 2026 Soccer World Cup.
McKenzie responded that she should ask her French husband to pay for her trip.
We got your a husband my sister, let him pay for the love of his life, the Euro is very strong, Frenchman are known to be romantic, let him pay Sista Joy❤️🤛 https://t.co/sNfOnngBdG
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) April 5, 2026