Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has announced that he has approved R3 million to ensure that South Africa’s Hockey players do not pay their own way to the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, which will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands next month.
McKenzie, who is under scrutiny after his Department spent R31 million at the FIFA World Cup, has acknowledged that SA’s hockey stars should not have to carry a personal financial burden to represent the country.
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The funds will enable both the South African Men’s and Women’s National Hockey Teams to participate fully funded at the World Cup, from 14 to 30 August.
In a statement, the Department says the intervention follows reports that the South African Hockey Association (SA Hockey) was facing a funding shortfall of approximately R3 million ahead of the tournament, and that members of both national squads risked having to personally cover a significant share of their own World Cup costs.
South African women’s hockey player Onthatile “Thati” Zulu posted an open letter on social media this week, expressing her frustration with the financial challenges facing the national team.
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McKenzie announced the intervention on Thursday:
“Our hockey players have already done South Africa proud, arriving in Europe as reigning African champions in both the men’s and women’s competitions. It cannot be right that athletes who have earned that place on the world stage through years of sacrifice are then asked to fund their own participation. Representing your country is a national honour and a national responsibility.”
The Minister says the Department will transfer the funding subject to the conclusion of a formal funding agreement and full compliance with all applicable governance, financial management and reporting requirements.
The Department says as a condition of the support, SA Hockey has been required to submit a comprehensive report on the circumstances that gave rise to the shortfall.
They also have to account in full for the utilisation of the funds provided, and to submit a Financial Turnaround Plan setting out how it will strengthen its financial sustainability and governance ahead of future international tournaments.
McKenzie says this intervention is made strictly in the national interest to safeguard this tournament, and “should not be read as a standing commitment by Government to cover operational or financial shortfalls at national federations.”
