Sports super-fan Joy Chauke, famously known as Mama Joy will not be heading to the Olympics funded by tax payer’s money says Minister Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.
The 2024 Olympics Games are set to take place in Paris, running from Friday the 26th of July until Sunday the 11th of August.
Mama Joy has been a beneficiary of the “super-fan” benefits which saw her travel in luxury to international destinations including the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The Royal AM No.1 fan also stayed in a 5 star hotel while in Paris for the RWC angering many South Africans who felt that her trip was a waste of tax payer’s monies.
Now that the ANC is not the ruling party, Mama Joy’s benefits as a super-fan have been stripped away by the new minister under the government of national unity.
This means that Mama Joy, who had expressed interest in going to the Olympic Games as she would have also united with her Paris born lover Papa Joy, will have to make other means to get to the city of love as the minister took to his X, former Twitter to share:
“I have stopped all trips for super fans, we have athletes & artist who are struggling to raise money to attend sporting events and exhibitions, how do we justify paying for fans?”
He added, “We shall no longer be paying for these trips and will use that money where it’s needed the most.”
I have stopped all trips for super fans, we have athletes & artist who are struggling to raise money to attend sporting events and exhibitions, how do we justify paying for fans? We shall no longer be paying for these trips and will use that money where it’s needed the most.
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 9, 2024
Internet users rushed to the comment section expressing conflicted:
I never thought a day will come where I clap hands for you.but today is that day👏this nonsense of luxury trips for super fans and certain group of celebrities gatekeeping arts and culture must come to an end.there are so many schools in rural areas who needs sports…
— SewelaNkoana (@sewelankoana) July 9, 2024
Another user raised another point commenting:
I have stopped all trips for super fans, we have athletes & artist who are struggling to raise money to attend sporting events and exhibitions, how do we justify paying for fans? We shall no longer be paying for these trips and will use that money where it’s needed the most.
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 9, 2024
Also see: Trying to get into the good books? Mama Joy ecstatic about Gayton’s appointment