Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is living it up in Mexico for the FIFA World Cup — and South African taxpayers are covering a cool R9 million for the privilege.

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed on Saturday that a ministerial and departmental delegation had cost around R9 million. But when social media users asked who paid for Lesufi's trip, McKenzie didn't talk about budgets. He played the race card.

"You guys like to criminalise black politicians," McKenzie posted on X. He then dragged Western Cape Premier Alan Winde into it, accusing the DA of hypocrisy: "Alan Winde went to New York and refused to tell you who paid and what was the cost. You're all acting Stevie Wonder about that. You are all DA postmen."

The drama started when the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture's official X account posted a clip of Lesufi arriving in Mexico ahead of the opening match between South Africa and the host nation. In the video, an excited Lesufi — wearing an old-school SAFA shirt — said: "Hey, we are in Mexico. Amigo, yeah! Bafana Bafana, we're in Mexico and we're going to do something big, amazing, surprising and shocking. There's only one Bafana Bafana, go for it. Bring it home!"

South Africans weren't impressed. They wanted to know who funded the trip.

Lesufi's office later clarified that the Premier is on leave and travelled in his personal capacity. His spokesperson told The South African: "The Premier is on leave and isn't representing the Gauteng Provincial government where he is. He has travelled in his personal capacity. There are no funds from the provincial government that were used for this trip."

But wait — Lesufi had earlier admitted that McKenzie "extended an invitation to the Premier in his official capacity." He only accepted match-day tickets from the minister, his office said. So the trip itself was personal, but the tickets came from the government.

McKenzie, who was appointed Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture after the 2024 elections, is no stranger to controversy. Before politics, he was a convicted bank robber turned author and motivational speaker. He has a reputation for speaking bluntly and defending black leaders against what he sees as unfair attacks.

Alan Winde, the DA premier McKenzie dragged into the fight, did take a trip to New York in 2023. At the time, his office refused to disclose the cost or who paid, citing security concerns. That trip was part of a trade mission to attract investment to the Western Cape.

The R9 million figure covers the entire ministerial and departmental delegation — not just Lesufi. But for many South Africans, the optics are terrible: a premier on leave enjoying World Cup matches while millions struggle with load shedding, unemployment, and a collapsing economy.

Neither McKenzie nor Lesufi has said whether the R9 million bill includes flights, accommodation, and per diems for the whole delegation. Lesufi's office insists no Gauteng money was used, but the national sport department is picking up the tab.

"You guys like to criminalise black politicians." — Gayton McKenzie

This isn't the first time a South African politician has faced backlash for a foreign trip. In 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa faced questions over a trip to the UK that reportedly cost R1.5 million. And in 2018, former President Jacob Zuma's son Duduzane was criticised for flying first class to a World Cup in Russia.

For now, Lesufi is in Mexico cheering on Bafana Bafana. Whether the team brings it home or not, the bill has already arrived — and South Africans aren't happy about it.