Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie is under fire after revelations that the much-anticipated Joshlin Smith Foundation, which he promised to establish and fund with his salary, has yet to materialise. The foundation was initially proposed to honour the memory of 7-year-old Joshlin Smith, who went missing from her Middelpos home in Saldanha Bay in February 2024.
McKenzie, who had been actively involved in the search for Joshlin following her disappearance, had pledged to donate his entire ministerial salary to the cause. However, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Liam Jacobs recently called out the minister for the foundation’s non-existence, claiming that it was being used as a political tool to gain favour. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Jacobs questioned the minister’s integrity:
“He went from pledging to donate 100% of his salary to the foundation to admitting it doesn’t exist. While I respect the good endeavours and charities funded by the minister (it’s a noble thing to do), the fact remains that Joshlin Smith’s name was used to score political points. Part of being a Member of Parliament is holding the executive to account. We must tell the truth to South Africans and honour the trust they have placed in us by voting for us to hold these offices. Lying about sending money somewhere in the name of reputation is dishonourable.”
In response to the growing backlash, McKenzie defended the delay in establishing the foundation, stating that the issue was personal and not for political gain. He clarified that since his appointment as a minister, he had indeed donated his salary to various causes, but not yet to the foundation itself, which remains unregistered.
“In the first months of my term, we have focused on the work of the Department and Ministry, and I have used the salary to fund worthy causes close to my heart, and the money has truly been making a difference. I have not used a cent of it for myself, and don’t intend to,” McKenzie asserted.
The minister further explained that the Joshlin Smith Foundation had not been registered yet because he wanted to ensure it was established properly, with careful planning and the right people involved. He emphasised that rushing into creating a foundation for the sake of optics or political pressure would be a mistake.
“The Joshlin Smith Foundation does not yet exist, because we want to make sure we get it right and don’t just do it to please members of other political parties who think this matter has anything to do with them. It is a private, personal matter, relating to my own funds and what I choose to do with my own money.”
Despite McKenzie’s defense, the situation remains contentious, with Joshlin’s maternal grandmother, Lauretta Yon, expressing surprise and frustration over the lack of communication. Yon said she was unaware of any foundation and claimed that McKenzie had not reached out to her regarding the initiative.
“No one approached me about it. I didn’t even know there was a plan to start a foundation. Gayton has not come to me about that,” Yon said, casting doubt on the sincerity of McKenzie’s claims.
The ongoing investigation into Joshlin’s disappearance has led to the arrest of several individuals, including Joshlin’s mother Kelly, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and two others. They face charges related to child trafficking, and their arrest has sparked further outrage from the community and those following the case.
