Minister McKenzie Vows to Combat Sports Corruption, Announces F1 Return and VAR Implementation

Pretoria, South Africa – Minister McKenzie today outlined ambitious plans for South African sports, emphasizing a commitment to transparency and development. Speaking to reporters, the Minister addressed allegations of corruption within sports, stating his intention to visit a 'tarven' where the Athletics South Africa (ASA) allegedly held a meeting. "Where can you talk serious other? In tarvens you can't even have a serious conversation," he remarked, highlighting the informal and potentially illicit nature of such gatherings.McKenzie detailed four key promises, expressing confidence in their realization. Firstly, he announced significant progress in bringing Formula 1 racing back to South Africa. "When we said we're going to bring F1, people thought we were joking," he said, adding that discussions with F1 and FIA presidents have been positive, with a promoter set to be announced by July 1st. Secondly, he committed to implementing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football, stating that discussions are 99.9% complete. Thirdly, he pledged support for artists and creatives to prevent them from 'dying as paupers'. Lastly, he promised the return of Bloemfontein Celtic to the sports scene. The Minister also touched on improving connectivity in stadiums, noting issues like his daughter being unable to reach him during a football match due to poor signal. "That is nonsense," he declared, indicating that stadium connectivity is part of the 90 million budget allocated for sports development. McKenzie concluded by asserting that South Africa is achieving many successes in sports, citing national teams' strong performances in rugby, cricket, and women's football.

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