Gayton McKenzie dodges what LIV Golf event will do for development of golf in SA
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
Following the announcement on Saturday that LIV Golf will be heading to South Africa in 2026, SA Minister of Sports Gayton McKenzie did not say what the event will do for the development of golf in the country.
The Saudi-funded tournament will be held at the exclusive Steyn City, in Johannesburg, from March 20 to 22 next year.
The event will have a strong home contingent representing the nation with Stingers GC featuring Louis Oosthuizen, Dean Burmester, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace.
LIV Golf events, as its name is derived from the Roman numerals for 54, have three 18-hole rounds and currently do not carry world rankings points for the tournaments.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
McKenzie on Golf's Elitist Perception and LIV's Impact on SA Golf Development
With tickets well over R500 (30 US dollars per person), although children under 12 will have free entry, it's difficult to see new fans attending the event.
When asked by IOL what the event will do for SA golf development, McKenzie dodged the question: 'I think the uncomfortable truth about this great sport called golf is that it has not truly broken through to the poorest of the poor or the underprivileged in our country, and the masses of black people.
'Golf is still seen, unfortunately so, despite the hard work that the people that are involved, but they've not truly made it a sport for everyone. It is still seen as an elitist sport in a country of 60 million people.
'It's an expensive sport. LIV wants, when they leave, to leave an impact behind.'
McKenzie though, said local artists would also feature in the entertainment at the events.
'We're also going to have headliners, which we've discussed, which is still a surprise, but this is one of the biggest headliners in the world that will play and perform. That headliner will perform with local artists, which will also give local artists exposure.'
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Seasoned sailor Nqoba Mswazi launches sailing initiative to empower youth in KwaZulu-Natal
Nqoba Mswazi has launched MH Performance Sailing to uplift young sailors in KwaZulu-Natal. Image: Supplied While the MSC Week regatta was underway off the coast of Durban, another significant moment in local sailing was quietly unfolding onshore. Nqoba Mswazi, a seasoned sailor with international experience, returned home not just to race but to launch something much bigger than a single event: MH Performance Sailing. Now based in the Mediterranean as a first mate on a super yacht, Mswazi has made his participation in MSC Week an annual tradition. However, this year, the regatta coincided with the official unveiling of his sailing initiative, which aims to uplift young sailors in KwaZulu-Natal. Standing proudly at the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Mswazi announced the formation of MH Performance Sailing on the eve of the 49th MSC Week which took place recently. 'The sport of sailing has given me so much. It has opened so many doors I never dreamed possible,' he said. 'I am hoping that through MH Performance Sailing, I will be able to give back and open some doors for a few others that share my love for this amazing sport.' His stable currently includes two L26 yachts: Velocity, purchased in 2023, and Element, the former Point Yacht Club Lipton Cup Challenger, which had been in storage since its last campaign. Both boats flew the MH Performance Sailing flag for the first time during MSC Week. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Raised in uMgababa south of Durban, Mswazi was among the first participants in the Sail Africa Foundation, a project launched by the Clipper Round the World sailor Craig Millar. Since then, his journey has taken him across oceans, from the Lipton Cup to the Vasco da Gama Ocean Race and to the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. But even with global experience under his belt, he hasn't lost sight of where it all began. 'Durban is an incubator for amazing talent,' he said. 'I want Durbanites to remain on their local waters and, from our beautiful home base, go and make waves on the international scene.' MH Performance Sailing is designed to serve as a stepping stone for young sailors who have already learned the basics but need support to take the next step. His MSC Week crew was made up entirely of young local sailors: some relatively inexperienced, others who had competed in international events like the Mirror Worlds, but all eager to improve. 'MSC Week was amazing even though there was a lot of pressure on us,' Mswazi said. 'But I'm proud of the guys I selected, and we proved that anything is possible if you believe in it.' The final race proved decisive. 'We were sitting on top of the leaderboard, but equal on points with our toughest competitor, Rainhard Lenz on Grayhard,' he said. 'We had to go out there and sail the race of our lives to win. We pushed the boat like never before, in a breeze that all but evaporated. The conditions were extremely challenging.' They emerged as 2025 L26 National Champions, MH Performance Sailing's first title. 'This is hopefully the first of many,' Mswazi said. His long-term goal is to grow the project into a launchpad for youth aiming for international sailing. 'My vision is to give youth the opportunity to step onto a competitive boat and reach for their stars,' he said. 'To be the best, you have got to beat the best.' Mentorship, he added, has played a vital role in his own development. 'It helped me to stay focused,' he said. 'It is really special having supportive people in your corner wanting to see you succeed in life.' Reflecting on his early days in sailing, Mswazi said he never imagined a career on the water. 'Not at all,' he said. 'But I felt at home on the water and saw an opportunity to make it as a career working on the big boats, so I followed that path. And I love it.' Side by side, MH Performance Sailing teams Element skippered by Nicolene Henkeman and Velocity skippered by Anna Correa head up to the top mark on day five of the MSC Week recently hosted offshore of Durban by Point Yacht Club. MH Performance Sailing, a vision of Nqoba Mswazi, was launched on the eve of the highly competitive regatta. Image: Chris Clark Asked what advice he would give to young people especially from rural KZN, Mswazi said: 'Stay true to yourself and focus on one goal so you can never lose direction. Mainly, be bold, never give up and stay humble.' He has headed back to the Med, leaving MH in the hands of his operations partner, Nicolene Henkeman. 'I need to head back to work to make some money so that I can spend it on the new boats, as well as keep MH Performance Sailing running.' For Mswazi, it's more than just racing. It's building a lasting platform for the next generation. THE MERCURY
The South African
13 hours ago
- The South African
Siwelele FC boss brags about being Minister Gayton's son
Despite shying away from his father's last name, Calvin Le John introduced himself as the son of Minister of Sport, Art and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, after addressing supporters of his newly acquired football club, Siwelele. The businessman- the firstborn of the former convict – recently purchased the club, previously Supersport United, for R50 million in a closed business deal. In his first speech, Siwelele FC's new boss introduced himself to the club's supporters. 'I am Calvin Le John, the firstborn of the Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie', he told a crowd of football fans at their general meeting last week. Calvin touched on his relationship with Gayton, and their love of the Bloemfontein Celtic club – nicknamed Siwelele – which later became Royal AM. 'On the day I was born, my father was sentenced to 17 years [for armed robbery]. From the day I was born until the age of 10, the only connection we had was through the visitors' section at Grootvlei [prison]. Becoming emotional, he added: 'In my family, one of the only things that brought us happiness was Siwelele'. @l_keezy021 Gayton McKenzie's son Calvin Le John donates R100,000 to supporters and gives his first speech as the Chairman of Siwelele football club in Bloemfontein #southafricatiktok #gaytonmckenzie #gayton #latestnews #incaseyoumissedit #southafricantiktok🇿🇦 #southafricatiktok🇿🇦 #fyp #fypageシ ♬ original sound – L_Keezy021 Since Calvin Le John acquired Siwelele FC, many South Africans have accused Gayton McKenzie of having a hand in the closed business deal. Others claim he would use his position as Minister of Sport to further the club's interests. Responding to the rumours, Gayton said in a Facebook Live: 'People act like we took money from under our mattress and we just went to go buy a club. Gayton McKenzie has heaped praise on his son, Calvin Le John. Images via Facebook 'He bought it, I'm not part of the company….There's no consortium, he owns 100% of the company alone'. Gayton added, 'I'm very proud of him. He doesn't want to trade on McKenzie's name; that shows you he is different.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
20 hours ago
- IOL News
Mabasa aims for goal improvement as Orlando Pirates prepare for new season
Tshegofatso Mabasa is ready to embrace the demands of the new season, relying on the strong sense of brotherhood within the Orlando Pirates squad to achieve success. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The passage of time has taught Tshegofatso Mabasa to embrace pressure and brotherhood, so that's why he's focused on helping Orlando Pirates do well next season. Mabasa scored fifteen goals in 48 games last season, and that was an average return after he netted nineteen goals in 33 matches the season before. So, as the new season beckons, Mabasa will be eager to improve his numbers upfront by contributing to as many goals as he possibly can for the team. However, the 28-year-old admits that he's not fazed by the responsibility as it's part and parcel of the job. 'The older I get, the less worried I am about pressure,' the striker said during the premiere of Pirates' docu-series Giants, last week. 'You can't perform well without pressure.' Just 2 days to go until Giants hit your screens ☠️ 📆 Sunday, 27 July 📺 21:00 on SuperSport & Mzansi Magic ⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways#giantsondstv — Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) July 25, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Being able to handle pressure hasn't come naturally for Mabasa. He has to feed off the support of his teammates and technical team as well. As such, when he went through a rough patch last season, resulting in him losing his place in the starting berth, it was his replacement, Evidence Makgopa, who offered him more support. So, that's why Mabasa doesn't look at the rest of the strikers at Pirates as his direct competitors, but rather as brothers. 'One thing about us is that there's healthy competition. You can actually see when we are doing finishing drills after training, the amount of support and love we share (is there),' he said. 'Take Evidence, for example, he's one person that knows almost everything that I've to deal with last season. Yet that time he was playing ahead of me. 'He supported me, and was there to try and lift me up. He'll be the first one to areye ngwana (let's go, kid). So, that's the sort of thing. I'd do the same thing for him as well. 'So that shows the relationship we have in the team. I think when 'Radio' (Boitumelo Radiopane) scored his first goal, a penalty, everyone ran to him, including myself.' The camaraderie within the Pirates teams runs in the entire group as the new players have quickly fitted in like a glove as well, following an exclusive tour of Spain. 'I think the trip to Spain gave us a chance to integrate them, and maybe away from all the noise in the country at that time,' said Mabasa of the adaptation of the new players. 'For us to be away, and be given that opportunity, I think it worked well because you can see how they performed even in the friendly games. 'Look at (Sipho) Mbule and (Oswin) Appollis' performances in the friendlies. It's just now for them to come back home, and do it here. We believe in them and they have our support.' Mabasa and Co have new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou who has to support them and be supported as well. Ouaddou's job is cut out for him as he has to make the team tick on the field, following the arrival of eleven new players, while getting results as well. The Moroccan-born coach replaces Jose Riveiro who won five trophies and bagged three successive runners-up spots in the league during his three-year reign. Mabasa, though, believes that the former Fulham defender will succeed at the club as he hasn't done much to change the foundation that has been built by his predecessor. 'I have noticed that he's a demanding coach, but he loves his players at the same time,' said Mabasa of his impression about Ouaddou. 'He's encouraging, and quite similar to coach Riveiro. There's not a lot that coach Ouaddou is trying to change – it's probably about defending set-pieces and dealing with transition. 'He's just trying to improve on the areas that we lacked last season, and we feel that's mostly from set-pieces, especially looking at the game we lost against Pyramids.' The camaraderie within the Pirates team runs in the entire group as the new players have quickly fitted in like a glove as well, following an exclusive tour of Spain. 'I think the trip to Spain gave us a chance to integrate them, and maybe away from all the noise in the country at that time,' said Mabsa of the adaptation of the new players. 'For us to be away, and be given that opportunity, I think it worked well because you can see how they performed even in the friendly games. 'Look at (Sipho) Mbule and (Osowin) Appollis' performances in the friendlies. It's just now for them to come back home, and do it here. We believe in them and they have our support.' Mabasa and Co have new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou who has to support them and be supported as well. Ouaddou's job is cut out for him as he has to make the team tick on the field, following the arrival of 11 new players, while getting results as well. The Moroccan born coach replaces Jose Riveiro who won five trophies and bagged three successive runners-up spots in the league during his three year reign. Mabasa, though, believes that the former Fulham defender will succeed at the club as he hasn't done much to change the foundation that has been built by his predecessor. 'I have noticed that he's a demanding coach, but he loves his players at the same time,' said Mabasa of his impression about Ouaddou. 'He's encouraging, and quite similar to coach Riveiro. There's not a lot that coach Ouaddou is trying to change - it's probably about defending setpieces and dealing with transition. 'He's just trying to improve on the areas that we lacked last season, and we feel that's mostly from set-pieces, especially looking at the game we lost against Pyramids.'
