A young touch rugby player from Atlantis may miss out on representing his province because his family cannot find R7,500.
Joe McGluwa, chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, told Minister Gayton McKenzie on Friday that the system was “broken”.
At the start of the committee’s meeting on 13 November 2026, McGluwa said he had spoken the day before to Loretta Williams, the mother of Matthew Johnson.
“Yesterday I spoke to Loretta Williams, the mom of Matthew Johnson. Her son plays touch rugby. She cried. She literally cried, because her son is unable to compete in the Western Cape Touch Association because of money. His dream, from Atlantis to Ireland has been jeopardised. And we are talking here of a lousy R7,500,” said McGluwa.
He spoke to the minister directly.
“R7,500. That is all that stands between a young boy from Atlantis and his dream of representing his province, his country, on the world stage. If we cannot fix that, what are we doing here? If a mother must cry because R7,500 is too much for her child to chase his dream, then Minister, our system is broken,” he said.
McGluwa said the problem went far beyond well-known athletes.
“Members, this is not just about the big names on television. This is about the children in our communities. Leadership stability means nothing if it does not protect a child like Matthew,” he said.
McKenzie, Deputy Minister Peace Mabe and Director-General Dr Cynthia Khumalo were in the meeting.
McGluwa raised Matthew’s case alongside his complaint that national athletes pay up to R50,000 of their own money to represent South Africa.
He spoke three days after Olympic champion Tatjana Smith announced she would swim for the Netherlands.
Friday’s meeting was McGluwa’s last as chairperson.