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McKenzie provides receipts for his alleged fake Bafana T-shirt on X
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie found himself at the center of a social media firestorm this week after an attempt to silence criticism over his Bafana Bafana jersey backfired spectacularly, with the public labeling the saga an “own goal.”
The controversy erupted when social media users scrutinized a Bafana Bafana jersey worn by the minister, accusing him of wearing a counterfeit. In an effort to clarify the matter, McKenzie took to X to defend himself.
Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK): “I bought 3 jerseys at Studio 88 at Sandton Square, I don’t do fake my brother”
In a bid to prove his innocence, the minister posted a photo of his till slip, revealing he had paid R1,500 for each jersey, totaling R4,500.
However, the evidence backfired as critics pointed out that the price matched a replica kit rather than an authentic player-issue jersey. According to the South African Football Association (SAFA) shop, an authentic 2026 jersey is priced at R2,499, while a replica kit costs R1,499. South Africans were quick to mock the minister, highlighting the irony given his previous calls for the public to buy only originals.
Social media erupted, with users accusing the minister of an “own goal” on the world stage.
@Skhulile_Masek: “Own goal”
@Lord_Ori_: “Gayton McKenzie had the choice to buy original Bafana Bafana T-shirts from an Adidas store in Sandton, and he chose Studio 88. Fam”
@Evidence_Shongw: “There’s Adidas on the same floor, and you chose Studio 88”
@Boitshoko_ts: “I thought as Minister of Sport, you are supposed to receive free original jerseys for both away and home. Not replicas”
Studio 88 Responds
Following the intense scrutiny, large-scale retailer Studio 88, from which McKenzie made his purchase, was forced to issue a public statement. The company firmly defended its inventory, insisting it does not deal in counterfeit goods.
“We do not sell, accept or otherwise deal with counterfeit goods or factory variants,” said Jayson Irwin, Studio 88’s customer care team leader, in a statement to TimesLIVE. “The Studio 88 group guarantees 100% authenticity”.
Irwin explained that the retailer’s supply chain relies exclusively on official channels, purchasing branded products from licensed brand holders operating within the sub-Saharan region. The group urged the public to report suspected counterfeit sales to the South African Police Service (SAPS) rather than spreading “rumours online”.
Despite McKenzie maintaining that he verified the garments’ authenticity directly with Adidas, the damage to his public image appeared done, with the incident serving as a cautionary tale about public scrutiny in the social media age.
