Ticketpro changes hands

Ticketpro, the official ticketing vendor for Cricket South Africa and the South African Football Association, has been sold to a women-owned empowerment consortium with links to Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie's Patriotic Alliance.

McKenzie's former chief of staff becomes CEO

Bakang Lethoko, who served as Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie's chief of staff from August until November two thousand twenty-four, took over as Ticketpro's new CEO in June this year.

Lethoko chaired World Cup steering committee

After leaving McKenzie's office, Lethoko chaired the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture's Formula One bid steering committee before becoming Ticketpro's CEO.

Blu Label sells ticketing business quietly

In May this year, the JSE-listed telecommunications group Blu Label sold its sports and events ticketing business to the women-owned consortium after being approached with an unsolicited bid.

PA-linked shareholders emerge

Astrid Harrison and Omphemetse Mokgosi, both with ties to McKenzie's Patriotic Alliance, confirmed they are now Ticketpro shareholders. A third shareholder is Zanele Dube, a marketing professional from Johannesburg.

Mokgosi appointed to government boards

Omphemetse Mokgosi was appointed by McKenzie to the boards of the National Film and Video Foundation in November two thousand twenty-four and the National Arts Council in January two thousand twenty-five.

Mokgosi also serves City entities

Mokgosi has also served as a director of Metrobus and the Johannesburg Roads Agency, two City of Johannesburg entities that report to Kenny Kunene, the PA's deputy president and the City's Member of the Mayoral Committee for transport.

Harrison describes herself as PA member

Astrid Harrison has described herself on social media as a proud, disciplined member of McKenzie's Patriotic Alliance. She is married to Timothy Harrison, a director of Spinning Sport South Africa.

“proud, disciplined member”

McKenzie funded spinning sport

In October two thousand twenty-four, McKenzie pledged five million rand in funding from his department to promote the sport of car spinning, which Timothy Harrison is part of.

Ticketpro handles World Cup tickets

Ticketpro is expected to be the ticket distributor for the two thousand twenty-seven Men's Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The ICC announced the schedule at an event in Cape Town on Thursday.

World Cup ticket site links to Ticketpro

The ICC's website for a ticket ballot that enables fans to register for World Cup tickets has general terms and conditions and data privacy policy links that open Ticketpro pages.

Ticketpro handles bumper cricket season

Ticketpro sells tickets for the Proteas' current and upcoming home fixtures in the two thousand twenty-six slash two thousand twenty-seven summer season, starting with Australia and culminating in January's matches against England.

England series could generate R100m

The January matches against England alone could bring in ticket sales totalling roughly one hundred million rand, according to an industry insider who spoke to Daily Maverick.

World Cup could earn CSA R100m

Next year's Men's Cricket World Cup may earn Cricket South Africa in excess of one hundred million rand in ticket sales, while the Betway SA twenty tournament ensures further ticket revenues for cricket's governing body.

McKenzie denies involvement in appointment

McKenzie strongly denied any role in Lethoko's ascension to Ticketpro CEO, saying she built her own relationships with decision-makers. He said he would have recommended her to any employer but was not asked for a reference.

“There was no involvement, and the Minister's understanding is that Ms Lethoko built her own relationships with the relevant decision-makers in pursuing her career.”

McKenzie questions media standards

McKenzie's spokesperson responded to conflict of interest concerns by asking whether PA members should be excluded from private sector work, saying there seems to be a strange view that PA members should only be cleaners or nail technicians.

“Should PA members starve?”

Ticketpro Group asserts commercial merit

Ticketpro Group denied that its perceived political ties were problematic, stating that business decisions are made on commercial merit through appropriate governance processes and that it has procedures to identify and manage conflicts of interest.

PA denies influence over appointment

The Patriotic Alliance denied influencing Lethoko's appointment at Ticketpro, saying the choice of CEO is a matter for the company's owners and board and that nobody acting for the party had discussions with Ticketpro about it.

“Ticketpro is a private company, and its choice of CEO is a matter for its owners and board. The Patriotic Alliance played no part in her appointment, formal or informal.”

Daily Maverick launches investigation series

This is the first instalment in Daily Maverick's Caught Out series. Upcoming reports will shed further light on the Ticketpro transaction and related matters as the investigation continues.