By Nkhensani Mthombeni
- Minister Gayton McKenzie blocked department money for Mama Joy Chauke but funded other fans and musicians for the soccer trip.
- Mama Joy Chauke flies to North America on Monday and wants South Africans to send cash donations for the trip.
Soccer superfan Mama Joy Chauke is flying to North America on Monday to support Bafana Bafana at the 2026 Fifa Soccer World Cup. She is travelling alone and paying for the trip out of her own pocket.
Chauke was gutted when Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie stopped the department from paying for her travel. The department chose to pay for other fans, content creators and musicians including Micasa and Mafikizolo instead.
The superfan said she is over the rejection and is glad she can still go after being sidelined.
“I’m healed and have moved on from that drama. You cannot force someone to like you, when they don’t. Ministers change all the time, next time it will be a different person, who believes in my vision and passion for the sport,” she said.
Chauke is appealing to South Africans to help fund her travel because North America is expensive. She shared her Capitec bank account and her verified X account so people can send her money.
Chauke feels like an essential part of the squad when she watches them play.
“To me it is important to support the national team. I feel like I’m the 12th player and you know when a team loses one player, it is painful and feels incomplete,” she said.
When asked how far Bafana Bafana will go in the tournament, she said the team will make the top 30 before taking it from there.
Chauke said she wants to meet fans from other countries whom she befriended during past tournaments. She said fans from around the world have a duty to support each other and fight against stadium hooliganism. She thanked her funders, supporters and everyone who believes in her vision.
Pictured above: Soccer superfan Mama Joy Chauke.
Image source: Supplied
