Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Renaldo Gouws has once again torn into South African superfan Joy “Mama Joy” Chauke – this time, over her Springboks and Proteas post on social media platform X.

 

MAMA JOY RUFFLES RENALDO GOUWS’ FEATHERS
Following the Springboks’ 12-11 victory against the All Blacks on Saturday at the Stade de France, Mama Joy – who is a Royal AM FC supporter – sarcastically tweeted that she is ready to go to India where the Proteas are currently competing in the Cricket World Cup.

“Our Trophy is back… Can I go to india or what? I need your vote… @cricketworldcup⁩,” she wrote.

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Responding to her, Gouws said: “Jirrr… How about learning from the Springboks and putting the nation first? Why don’t you offer to pay for a young cricketer to go and support his country or at the very least give up your spot. You have been to 5 World Cups and also to the Rio Olympics. When is enough enough?”

A day later, the politician wanted to know by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa had not answered questions submitted to his office via parliament about the funding of superfans.

SPORTS DEPARTMENT LASHES BACK AT GOUWS
Since the start of the Rugby World Cup tournament in September, Gouws has been suggesting in his posts that Mama Joy’s superfan career has been funded by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture. Gouws has also expressed that he is against Mama Joy being the only sports fan who attends major sporting events “at the expense of taxpayers.”

“Mama Joy has attended three events in the past 12 months on behalf of taxpayers: Qatar Soccer World Cup; New Zealand Soccer World Cup (Ladies); Rugby World Cup in France So no room for other ‘superfans’? Always the same tannie? Sounds a bit unfair doesn’t it?” said Gouws.
His claims were denied by Mama Joy as well as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa, who lashed back in a statement saying his department has only paid for flight and accommodation expenses in France for the tournament.

“Mama Joy has become the face of the Braai Army in France. She is raising agency and voice of women in a male dominant environment. It cannot be correct for South Africans who are refusing change to use the Rugby World Cup to push their underlying racism and patriarchal tendencies to bully and insult a woman who has built a profile as a superfan across all sporting codes from the bottom-up.”