Gayton McKenzie explains why the Joslin Smith Foundation remains inactive

Gayton McKenzie has clarified why the foundation he created in Joslin Smith’s name has not yet started operating.

As Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation, he has taken a personal interest in the case of Joslin, the Saldanha Bay girl who went missing from her home in February.

In May, the court convicted and sentenced Joslin’s mother, Kelly Smith, along with Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, for kidnapping and child trafficking.

GAYTON MCKENZIE CLARIFIES JOSLIN SMITH FOUNDATION CONFUSION

In an X post, Gayton McKenzie clarified the confusion surrounding his vow to not only establish a foundation in Joslin Smith’s honour, but donate his ministerial salary towards it.

He posted on X: A simple search would have shown that the foundation is registered. We will make public the amount we have donated, which exceeds my salary. 

Explaining the delay,  he added: “It took long because someone already registered the name and wanted business opportunities from me in exchange for the name.”

Gayton’s post comes after media personality Dan Corder questioned if the foundation existed.

“Where is the staff, the premises, the website, the marketing, the work?” Dan asked.

DONATING 100% OF HIS SALARY?

In July last year, Gayton McKenzie claimed that he was “in the final stages” of registering a foundation in Joslin Smith’s name.

A month earlier, Gayton revealed that he would donate “100%” of his salary to the foundation, which he would establish to raise awareness of missing children in the country.

In November, Gayton posted an update on Facebook: “The Joslin Smith Foundation does not yet exist because we want to make sure we get it right. And don’t just do it to please the members of other political parties who think this matter has anything to do with them. 

“It is a private, personal matter relating to my own funds. And what I choose to do with my own money.

“To rush into the creation of any foundation would be a mistake.”