The Department of arts and culture has defended super sports fan Mama Joy. Images via X: @chauke_joy
‘My minister’: Mama Joy thanks Zizi Kodwa for backing her
Mama Joy headed online to thank Minister Zizi Kodwa for her support amid backlash over the fact that she is paid to attend national matches.
The Department of arts and culture has defended super sports fan Mama Joy. Images via X: @chauke_joy
Earlier this week, South Africans all across the country got their knickers into a twist after a social media user revealed that local super sports fanatic Mama Joy — real name Joy Chauke — was getting paid to support the country’s various national sports teams. This led to the Department of arts, culture and sports releasing a statement regarding both Mama Joy and Botha Msila getting paid to support national sports teams in various countries.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mama Joy shared a screenshot of a post made by Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa.
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Mama Joy gets support from Arts department
“It’s concerning that when the world recognises their presence, thus celebrating the contribution of South African supporters at the World Cup, two of South Africa’s superfans are receiving criticism and insults from within the country,” reads part of the statement shared by the department earlier today.
The statement also went on to say that Mama Joy and Botha Msila contribute to how the world sees South Africa. According to the department, the pair also play a role in “addressing legacies of the colonial rule and apartheid policies.”
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The lengthy message comes shortly after one social media user went viral after tweeting his dismay at the fact Mama Joy and Botha were actually getting paid to support the country’s national teams.
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Mzansi shares their thoughts
This sparked instant outrage among other app South Africans who question whether or not it is fair for taxpayers to be paying for Mama Joy’s trips around the world.
Others have however shared that it is money well spent — especially considering the corruption levels of South Africa and how much money is lost to immoral politicians.
“These passionate rugby fans were robbed of a trip to France, you have no passion and no loyalty. You left @orlandopirates to support Royal AM because apparently MaMkhize gave you 500k for that. You’re eating our money while we have sports federations with financial problems,” one person said to Mama Joy on X.
Grateful?
Meanwhile, she has ignored all of the “hate” and headed online to thank both Zizi Kodwa and the rest of her supporters for backing her up.
Taking to X shortly after the statement was released, she wrote “thank you my minister,” while also sharing a post of herself posing with Kodwa.
She also retweeted a number of supportive tweets made by other people across the country.
ALSO READ: ‘South Africa represented’: Mama Joy takes World Cup [photos]
