JOHANNESBURG, Monday 5 October 2026 — Several people with links to Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie and his Patriotic Alliance have emerged as senior figures in the new ownership and management structure of Ticketpro, Cricket South Africa’s established ticketing provider, ahead of the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
A Daily Maverick investigation published on Monday found that Bakang Lethoko, who served as McKenzie’s chief of staff in 2024 and later chaired the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s Formula One bid steering committee, became Ticketpro’s chief executive in June.
The company’s new shareholders also include Omphemetse Mokgosi, whom McKenzie appointed to the boards of two entities falling under his department, and Astrid Harrison, who has publicly identified herself as a Patriotic Alliance member.
McKenzie, the PA and the people involved deny any impropriety.
Daily Maverick said its investigation had found no evidence that McKenzie intervened in the sale of Ticketpro or in the company’s commercial arrangements with sporting bodies.
Ticketpro sold to women-owned consortium
Ticketpro was previously owned by JSE-listed telecommunications group Blu Label.
Blu Label said it sold the business in May after receiving an unsolicited offer from what it described as a women-owned broad-based black economic empowerment consortium.
The company characterised the transaction as an arm’s-length disposal.
Blu Label declined to disclose the purchaser’s identity, the sale price or other terms of the transaction, citing confidentiality provisions in the sale agreement.
A new entity called Ticketpro Group was subsequently established in August.
Its directors are Harrison, Mokgosi and marketing professional Zanele Dube.
Harrison confirmed to Daily Maverick that the three women are shareholders in Ticketpro, although the publication said it had not established whether their structure owns all the company’s shares or whether additional shareholders are involved.
Former McKenzie chief of staff becomes CEO
Lethoko served as McKenzie’s chief of staff from August until November 2024.
She subsequently chaired the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s Formula One bid steering committee before becoming Ticketpro CEO in June this year.
Lethoko said her government role ended well before her appointment at the company.
She declined to discuss her personal political membership, saying it was not relevant to her responsibilities as Ticketpro chief executive or the commercial issues involved.
McKenzie denied having played any role in securing the position for his former chief of staff.
His spokesperson said Lethoko had developed her own relationships with relevant decision-makers and that McKenzie had neither formally nor informally been asked to provide a reference.
McKenzie appointee among shareholders
Mokgosi has a separate connection to the minister through appointments within the arts sector.
McKenzie appointed her to the National Film and Video Foundation board in November 2024 and the National Arts Council board in January 2025, according to Daily Maverick.
She has also served as a director of Johannesburg municipal entities Metrobus and the Johannesburg Roads Agency.
Harrison, another Ticketpro shareholder, has described herself publicly as a PA member.
Her husband, Timothy Harrison, is a director of Spinning Sport South Africa, a non-profit organisation associated with the development of car spinning.
McKenzie announced R5 million in departmental funding to promote the sport in October 2024.
His spokesperson said the minister knew Timothy Harrison in a professional capacity through the development of the sport.
PA rejects suggestion of influence
The Patriotic Alliance denied influencing Lethoko’s appointment or Ticketpro’s business arrangements.
Party spokesperson Steven Motale said Ticketpro was a private company and its appointment of a chief executive was a matter for its owners and board.
He also said the new Ticketpro Group directors were not PA employees or office-bearers and that the party had played no role in securing business opportunities or positions for them.
McKenzie’s office similarly rejected suggestions that his position could be used to influence procurement decisions.
His spokesperson said the minister does not make direct procurement decisions and that Ticketpro would have to comply with applicable procurement requirements when competing for work.
Ticketpro Group said its commercial decisions were made on merit and through governance processes intended to identify and manage potential conflicts.
Ticketpro remains Cricket SA ticketing provider
The ownership changes are significant because Ticketpro remains the ticketing provider used by Cricket South Africa.
CSA’s own website currently directs supporters to Ticketpro for tickets and describes the company as its “trusted partner”.
Ticketpro is handling sales for Proteas fixtures during the 2026/27 home season.
Questions also surround the ticketing arrangements for next year’s Men’s Cricket World Cup, which South Africa will co-host with Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The tournament’s South African local organising committee has not publicly confirmed Ticketpro as the World Cup ticket distributor.
However, Daily Maverick reported that the ticket-ballot website launched with the tournament schedule last week contained general terms and privacy-policy links leading to Ticketpro pages.
The local organising committee told the publication that it would make an announcement about ticketing in the coming weeks.
Ticketpro’s shareholders declined to comment on prospective tenders or procurement processes.
World Cup creates substantial commercial opportunity
South Africa is scheduled to host 41 of the tournament’s 57 matches, including the semi-finals and final.
CSA estimates that more than half a million tickets will be available for the tournament.
A BDO study commissioned for the event projected attendance of 594,767 across the eight South African venues, including general admission, hospitality and complimentary tickets.
Daily Maverick estimates that approximately 409,000 general-access tickets at an average price of about R250 could generate around R102 million.
The publication estimates a ticketing provider receiving a roughly 4% share would earn approximately R4.1 million from those general-access sales, although the exact terms of Ticketpro’s commercial arrangements with CSA have not been disclosed.
CSA itself is expecting the World Cup to provide a substantial financial boost after reporting a R440.6 million net loss in its latest financial year.
No evidence minister intervened
The political significance of the Ticketpro ownership structure arises from the overlap between people connected to the minister and a company conducting business in sporting sectors falling within his portfolio.
That overlap does not itself establish political interference, an improper procurement process or a conflict of interest.
Daily Maverick explicitly reported that it had found no evidence that McKenzie intervened in either Ticketpro’s ownership transaction or its commercial arrangements with sporting bodies.
There has also been no finding by a court, regulator or investigative authority that the transaction was improper.
The next significant development is likely to come when the Cricket World Cup local organising committee formally announces its ticketing arrangements and explains the procurement or appointment process used to select the provider.
