Minister of Sport, Art and Culture Gayton McKenzie has broken his silence on his son Calvin Le John’s purchase of PSL soccer club, SuperSport United.
The R50 million purchase, via a consortium, took place during a closed bidding process.
Calvin, also a prominent businessman, dropped his father’s last name in recent years. He plans to change its name to Siwelele FC and fill the void of the now-defunct Bloemfontein Celtic, which later became Royal AM.
GAYTON MCKENZIE ON PSL CLUB PURCHASE: ‘THERE’S NO LINK TO ME’
Speaking to eNCA’s Percy Young, Gayton McKenzie addressed the contentious issue of his son Calvin Le John’s purchase of SuperSport United.
The Minister of Sport insisted that he was not involved in the closed bidding deal.
He said: “I’m at arm’s length. But there are family members who dug into their pockets and got the team, they got SuperSport United.
“But there’s no link to me, and there shouldn’t be a link.
“My involvement was actively, publicly telling South Africans that I was going to make sure that Siwelele returns to the Free State. It’s about to happen.”
Gayton jokingly added: “As a minister, when I get reshuffled, I will go look for a job there, as a mascot”.
‘MY FAMILY HAS THE RESOURCES’
While Gayton McKenzie claims he was not involved in the SuperSport United deal, he does hope that the club will fill a void left by his favourite PSL club, Bloemfontein Celtic.
He continued: “The only time my family was together, and the only time my father hugged me, was when Celtic scored a goal. It’s very emotional for my family. My son has taken over my family business, because as a minister, we’re not allowed to have businesses.
Images via X
“He was at the deathbed of my father, and the last thing he spoke about was Celtic.
“We can’t sit here when my family has the resources…people in the Free State are suffering. That can never happen”.
BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN MINISTRY AND FAMILY BUSINESS?
Last month, Gayton McKenzie, in his capacity as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, vowed that Bloemfontein Celtic, under its nickname Siwelele, would return to the PSL.
What he did not mention was his son’s investment.
He told reporters: “I’m still meeting the people who will fulfill that promise. Siwelele or Phunya Sele Sele is coming back. I can promise. I can’t make promises that I can’t keep as a minister. I’m a politician.
He added: “They are on track, and I trust them absolutely because I know them.”
“I asked them if they were still on track with bringing Celtic back. They said they are 100% on track to bring Celtic back”.
According to Goal.com, Free State businessman Edward Modise owns the naming rights to Bloemfontein Celtic.
DO YOU THINK GAYTON MCKENZIE’S AFFILIATION WITH SUPERSPORT UNITED’S SALE IS ABOVE BOARD?
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