Mzansi's super fan Mama Joy Chauke has jetted off to the Paris Olympics to support Team South Africa’s 149 athletes who are vying for medals at the Summer Olympic Games.
The popular fan, known for her charismatic support of national teams, jetted off to Paris in a direct flight via Air France on Thursday night. Up until now, she had been watching the Summer Olympic Games on TV like everyone else and making a point of showing this on her X account.
Mama Joy posted on Thursday night on her social media pictures of her sporting colourful viola braids, which were matching Mzansi national flag colours. She also posed with TV broadcaster Carol Tshabalala, who appeared to have taken the same flight to Paris.
“Paris here we come, I love it I love it, I am superfan Mama Joy,” she said on the video.
Look who I met inside my flight Airfrance @SimplyCarol8 Paris Olympics pic.twitter.com/ch2fdoXnpO
It is unclear who is funding Mama Joy's Paris trip after new Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said he would not allow the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) to utilise its budget in funding overseas trips for a select group of super fans.
During the Rugby World Cup last year, also in Paris, the taxpayer spent over R1.3 million funding the travel and accommodation of two super fans in Paris.
“I have stopped all trips for super fans, we have athletes & artist who are struggling to raise money to attend sporting events and exhibitions, how do we justify paying for fans?
“We shall no longer be paying for these trips and will use that money where it’s needed the most,” said McKenzie two weeks ago.
IOL has sent questions to DSAC spokesperson Zimasa Velaphi, but his phone was off. He is expected to be travelling to the Olympics with the minister, and on Saturday morning, they will be hosting a Home Away From Home station for South Africans in France.
The Sascoc and Tourism South Africa-operated station is a station opened in Paris to celebrate Mzansi’s athletes and culture.
This story will be updated once Velaphi has responded.
Mama Joy's phone could not be reached. IOL has sent Mama Joy messages on WhatsApp. She has since read the message and duly “blue ticked” this IOL journalist by reading, but not responding to the message.
Meanwhile, Mama Joy is not the only one going to Paris - the SA Police Service (SAPS) has deployed 15 public order police officers to the global event to assist in performing policing functions during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Police commissioner General Fannie Masemola said SAPS was the only SADC law enforcement agency to be taking part in this skills-sharing opportunity in relation to crowd management control capabilities following a request from the French Government for members from various security officers including SAPS to provide support to its Interior Security in their mission to ensure a safe and secure event, at the cost of the French Government.
“Our Public Order Police officers have been involved in the policing of several world class events including the BRICS summit and AGOA which took place without incident and disruptions.
“We are confident that this opportunity will allow members to come back to share and transfer skills and knowledge to other members which will assist us in enhancing the policing of large gatherings and crowd,” said Masemola.
The 15 members, which include seven women and eight male officers, were selected from all nine provinces, and each boast more than 10 years experience in the Public Order Police unit.
They left for Paris on Thursday night.
IOL