Media personality Bonang Matheba has thrown her weight behind South Africa’s swimmers, calling on newly appointed Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie to intervene after Swimming South Africa reportedly told athletes they must pay R55 000 each to cover their own flights and accommodation ahead of the World Aquatics Championships. Matheba tagged the minister directly in a public post, questioning why competitors who represent their country on the world stage should be forced to fund their own participation.

Her message struck a powerful chord across social media, where supporters quickly rallied behind her call for accountability. Many agreed that athletes already sacrifice so much in pursuit of national colours, and that placing such a heavy financial burden on individuals defeats the very purpose of representative sport. Some commenters urged Minister McKenzie to step in urgently, saying the situation highlights a much deeper funding crisis within South African sports administration.

The debate comes at a critical moment for local swimming, with athletes now caught between competing on the global stage and the reality of what it will cost them personally. Matheba’s intervention has turned a quiet grievance into a national conversation — one that asks: when our athletes win, we all celebrate together. Shouldn’t we also stand together when they need support the most?

https://briefly.co.za/entertainment/celebrities/258562-bonang-matheba-tags-gayton-mckenzie-swimming-sa-demanding-r55k-athletes/

https://x.com/Bonang/status/2120145779964641628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2120145779964641628%7Ctwgr%5E39803e16c6463de80faccb7c6112d50ec85c9c0c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbriefly.co.za%2Fentertainment%2Fcelebrities%2F258562-bonang-matheba-tags-gayton-mckenzie-swimming-sa-demanding-r55k-athletes%2F