Gayton McKenzie’s R82-million VAR pipe dream and the R765,257 technical mission to Spain

The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture said that the only taxpayer funds spent on South Africa’s VAR project were R765,257 during a departmental trip to Spain.In September 2025, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie announced that his department would spend R82 million on a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to benefit football in South Africa.