Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has come under intense scrutiny after failing to appear before Parliament to discuss his much-touted promises regarding the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in South African football.
The minister’s no-show has sparked frustration among Members of Parliament, who were expecting detailed updates on how and when VAR would be implemented in local competitions. McKenzie had previously pledged to fast-track the rollout of VAR to improve fairness and reduce controversial refereeing decisions.
Parliamentarians expressed disappointment at the minister’s absence and warned that they might escalate the issue directly to President Cyril Ramaphosa if McKenzie fails to provide satisfactory explanations soon.
A senior MP commented, “The promises of VAR raised expectations across the sporting community. We need answers, and the minister’s failure to show up today is unacceptable. If this continues, we will have no choice but to take the matter to the highest office.”
The pressure is now mounting on McKenzie to deliver on his commitments and engage openly with Parliament, or risk further political consequences. Football fans and stakeholders alike are watching closely, eager to see whether the long-awaited technology will finally become a reality in South Africa’s beautiful game.
