Overview
- The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture says Minister Gayton McKenzie has authorised R3 million to fully fund both the men’s and women’s national hockey teams for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.
- DSAC will effect the transfer only after SA Hockey concludes a formal funding agreement and submits a comprehensive report plus a Financial Turnaround Plan to address the shortfall.
- The move responds to reports that SA Hockey faced an approximate R3 million gap and that players had been expected to cover costs running into tens of thousands of rand each for flights, visas, accommodation and tournament fees.
- The funding removes the immediate risk that athletes would have to self-fund World Cup participation but the minister described the support as a targeted, non-recurring intervention not a standing commitment to cover federations’ operational shortfalls.
- DSAC framed the step as part of a wider push to strengthen financial management and governance across sports federations so last-minute funding crises do not recur before major international events.