How many people are the department of sport, arts and culture funding to attend sporting events around the world? How are they selected and how much money is spent on each superfan?
These are the questions the man embroiled in an online war with superfan Mama Joy Chauke and South Africans who support the initiative is demanding answers to.
Nelson Mandela Bay DA councillor Renaldo Gouws says if the department does not answer truthfully or if there is any suspicion of numbers being hidden, he will request a formal investigation be launched through parliamentary channels.
He had tweeted: “I was today years old when I found out these two are paid by the department of sports, arts and culture to go and be supporters in the stands. I'm not joking, they are paid by taxpayers to go to sporting events across the world to 'represent' South Africa.”
After the tweet went viral, Gouws asked the sport, arts and culture committee to get answers from the department.
“I have no issue with South Africa sending people overseas to support our teams, but it has to be transparent and open to all South Africans. Mama Joy has benefited from going to three world cups within the last 12 months. Why has no one else been given the opportunity? Added to that, why are we funding fans but don't have money for athletes that qualified to represent South Africa? My ward office receives at least one request a week from someone having to crowdfund because the department doesn't have money,” Gouws told TimesLIVE Premium.
Unfortunately people who think along racial lines jumped on these honest questions but they were in the vast minority. Racism is also a common place on social media these days so I simply block and move on. The overwhelming majority of people who responded think it's a valid question considering how athletes can't get funding but superfans can get an all-expenses paid holiday.
— Renaldo Gouws
Though Chauke responded to Gouws in tongue-in-cheek posts from France, showing videos of people praising her, shouting her name and also stating how wonderful Paris is, she told TimesLIVE Premium that her mind was only on the Springboks' upcoming clash with France.
Her trip, including flights and accommodation over the past two weeks, would have cost about R200,000 — based on current calculations of a reporter based in France as well as a package offered by a local rugby company. However, the department and Chauke refuse to reveal the amount spent on Chauke and another superfan, Botha Msila.
Dan Hooton from Braai Nation Travel said during this Rugby World Cup, the average fan on the street really struggled to afford hotel prices.
“For example, a two-night stay in a 3-star hotel in Central Marseille over the weekend that the Boks played Scotland would set you back €500 (R10,022) per person. That's just for a hotel and doesn't include flights, match tickets €100 — €300 (R2,004 — R6,000) and entertainment, €10 (R200) for a beer, a decent meal probably €30 (R600). For a comfortable weekend in Marseille, it would have set a supporter back roughly €1,000 (R20, 000).
“For context, in November 2022 the Boks played France in Marseille, we were able to put together a package for 300 people that included return flights from London, three nights in central Marseille and match tickets for €450 (R9,000) per person, remember that's including flights. Your entertainment was also probably half the price.”
He said one understands it's the World Cup, but the prices have been “pretty expensive for what you get”.
“I think you are seeing a knock-on effect for the England and Wales quarterfinals which still have plenty of seats available and we're two days away from the games. Because corporate travellers generally have a larger budget to work with, they have been able to better deal with these costs,” he said.
I think the idea of the department to subsidise these superfans is brilliant, money well spent, absolute genius. It shows off the friendly and fun side of South Africans. Those who don't see this are wearing their sour grape glasses and I hope their next boerie falls off the braai grid.
— Major Rys Vleis
Minister of sports, arts and culture Zizi Kodwa lashed back at Gouws in a statement.
“Mama Joy has become the face of the Braai Army in France. She is raising agency and voice of women in a male-dominant environment. It cannot be correct for South Africans who are refusing change to use the Rugby World Cup to push their underlying racism and patriarchal tendencies to bully and insult a woman who has built a profile as a superfan across all sporting codes from the bottom up.”
Major Rys Vleis of the Braai Army said Chauke and the Braai Army first got together for the Women's World Cup Soccer in France a few years ago.
“The Braai Army has always admired the effort that Mama Joy has put into raising the gees for the South African sports supporters. This year for the Rugby World Cup we were delighted to find out that Mama Joy would be adding her special magic to the Springbok fans and welcomed SA's #1 fan with open arms, and maybe some boerie rolls.”
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