Sports minister Gayton McKenzie at OR Tambo International Sports minister Gayton McKenzie hinted he is close to brokering a deal with SuperSport and the SABC to televise the Springbok Rugby Championship clash against New Zealnd at the end of the month. Photo: Michael Sherman/IOL
SA minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie on Tuesday hinted that he is close to brokering a deal for the public broadcaster (SABC) to televise the Rugby Championship match between the Springboks and All Blacks at Ellis Park on August 31.
The Springboks played their first game of the rugby championship over the weekend, as they dispatched hosts Australia 33-7 in Brisbane.
Australia will host the Springboks again this weekend in Perth, before South Africa host New Zealand in their first home game of the four-team tournament. Currently, pay TV broadcaster SuperSport own the rights for Springbok games.
McKenzie had previously said he was going to war over the broadcasting of Springbok games on SABC, and he clarified exactly what he meant.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie says talks with Supersport are positive and he is working on getting Springbok matches to be broadcast on SABC. He said an announcement is expected next week. 🎥 : Michael Sherman/@IOLsport pic.twitter.com/g8pOSf6lly
— IOL News (@IOL) August 13, 2024
“I am working on that. I met with SuperSport. There’s a perception I want to fix. When I saw we are going to war, we are not going to war with SABC or SuperSport. It is not the responsibility of SuperSport to make sure the people of South Africa see the game. I’m going to war with the broadcaster, us politicians. We must make money available. The money of SuperSport is based on broadcasting rights,” said McKenzie when asked about the matter on Team SA’s arrival back home from the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
“If I expect SuperSport to give away the game for free, I’m killing their business. Mandela got his T-shirt 30 years ago is the very same stadium. So I’m talking to them.”
McKenzie said that as member of the Government of National Unity (GNU), he and his peers had a responsibility on their shoulders to bring the game to the majority of the country.
“We are responsible for our people not watching the games. We must fix it as politicians, and I intend to fix it as sports minister.
“I’m busy negotiating that game.”
The attitude of SuperSport was good, explained the Patriotic Alliance leader McKenzie.
“It [SuperSport’s attitude] is not one of arrogance. Their attitude is not one of arrogance, it’s one of ‘listen to us, and we listen to you’. We are now waiting for them to get back to us, but we had a meeting yesterday.
“We said this is an important game, find it in your heart for the South Africans to be able to watch this game. We are not a communist or socialist country, we are a country that must help our business.”
Though he did reveal too much, McKenzie would be able to confirm if indeed the SABC and SuperSport have come to an agreement next week.
“I’ve got big meetings I’m not going to tell you about. I’m going somewhere, but when I come back I’ll come with good news.”