The DA has escalated its political war against Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, submitting what it says is more “damning information" to the Public Protector on Thursday to widen an ongoing ethics probe.

The supplementary complaint accuses McKenzie of transforming his State department into a vehicle for party-political patronage, systematically benefiting his inner circle and members of his party, the PA.

The submission expands on an initial complaint filed by the DA in July, which asked the Public Protector to investigate whether McKenzie breached his oath of office, the Executive Members’ Ethics Act, and the Executive Ethics Code through systemic maladministration, abuse of power and improper benefit.

DA spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture Leah Potgieter confirmed that its new evidence aims to legally compel the Public Protector to broaden the scope of the current investigation.

"While the people of South Africa struggle, the PA insiders around McKenzie are continuously accused of selfishly consuming taxpayer money," Potgieter said.

The DA's grievances are twofold: stacking of departmental entities with PA loyalists and an irregularity-riddled R31-million trip to the Soccer World Cup.

According to the DA, McKenzie personally intervened to appoint a six-member adjudication panel for the lucrative 2025/26 Mzansi Golden Economy fund.

Three of those members – Steve Motale, Vernon Vraagom, and Francisco Tejada – were active PA members at the time. Motale was serving concurrently as the PA’s national spokesperson.

The DA claims that departmental leadership has directly linked these appointments to the Minister. Both the Deputy Minister and the department’s director-general reportedly confirmed that McKenzie personally established the panel's requirements and handpicked its members.

The fresh evidence submitted on Thursday further alleges that at least 19 individuals connected to the PA have been appointed to the boards of vital public entities overseen by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

These include influential positions at the National Library of South Africa, the National Arts Council, the National Film and Video Foundation and the Robben Island Museum.

Potgieter revealed that several of these individuals serve on multiple boards simultaneously, creating severe conflicts of interest.

"Additionally, many of these entities are currently plagued by allegations of serious mismanagement," she added.

The second part of Thursday’s supplementary complaint takes aim at McKenzie's controversial R31-million World Cup trip.

The DA notes that the Ministerial Handbook explicitly dictates that no more than two support staff members may accompany a Minister on international travel.

However, McKenzie reportedly bypassed this regulation by taking an expanded entourage, including his Chief of Staff, Private and Appointment Secretary, spokesperson, and two Ministerial support staff.

"Not only is Gayton McKenzie’s Department failing to provide adequate information to Parliament, but it has also come to light that many of the Minister’s 18-member World Cup delegation were drawn directly from his political office," Potgieter stated.

The DA has launched a Promotion of Access to Information Act request to extract the full passenger manifesto and expenditure breakdown of the delegation, promising to hand over all retrieved documents directly to the Public Protector.