Joy “Mama Joy” Chauke continues to request to be sent to the Fifa World Cup in USA in June but has been denied by Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie.
Joy Chauke, affectionately known as “Mama Joy”, continues to plead to be taken to the FIFA World Cup which commences on June this year to support Bafana Bafana in their first appearance at the tournament since hosting it in 2010.
The South African super fan has taken shots at Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, on social media in a spat that has renewed on Thursday.
“I didn’t Ask Minister @GaytonMcK to take me to the Worldcup,I asked for 50 fans he promised, He wanted to take the influencers unfortunately DSAC (Department of Sports, Arts and Culture) denied cos of budget, I also didn’t know the money spent for RWC,I felt targeted by his answer no respect for Papajoy (sic),” she said in a post on X on Thursday morning.
I didn’t Ask Minister @GaytonMcK to take me to the Worldcup,I asked for 50 fans he promised ,He wanted to take the influencers unfortunately DSAC denied cos of budget, I also didn’t know the money spent for RWC,I felt targeted by his answer no respect for Papajoy, pic.twitter.com/6942M5cwcR
— MamaJoy Chauke (@JoyChauke5) April 9, 2026
This is in response to McKenzie suggesting that her husband, who is a French national, Nicolas Pitaud, who has been dubbed “Papa Joy”, fund her trip to the US.
“We got your (sic) a husband my sister, let him pay for the love of his life, the Euro is very strong. Frenchman are known to be romantic, let him pay Sista Joy,” the minster said on X on Monday.
We got your a husband my sister, let him pay for the love of his life, the Euro is very strong, Frenchman are known to be romantic, let him pay Sista Joy❤️🤛 https://t.co/sNfOnngBdG
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) April 5, 2026
News24 reached out to Chauke, who initially agreed to speak but then put the phone down after being asked one question.
Minister McKenzie’s spokesperson said that he is unavailable for comment for the next two days as he has prior work commitments.
The “RWC” refers to the Rugby World Cup in 2023 which Chauke attended in France and, according to McKenzie, it cost DSAC R700 000.
Let me be clear: the President of the country did not pay for Mama Joy’s trips, despite what she may think. DSAC did. Both trips I could find info on from before my term were covered by the department. Her France trip alone cost R700k. I hope this matter can now be put to rest. https://t.co/1kWlRDAIOg
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) April 8, 2026
In February, McKenzie had suggested that his department would send 50 local fans to the US for the World Cup.
“You’ve got the minister for sport, the ‘Minister of Happiness’, a minister that makes things happen,” McKenzie said two months ago. “Let me tell you there’s going to be fan parks, there’s going to be competitions.
“We (are) even running a competitions where 50 of the ‘Face of Africa’ can go to the World Cup. So people, you must put your face there,even if it’s a guy or woman. Our women here are more beautiful than those women (overseas), that is a fact.”
Chauke has also claimed on social media that McKenzie promised “sponsors” to cover the expenses for attending the World Cup.
