Concerns Raised Over McKenzie’s Unfulfilled Pledge To Establish Joshlin Smith Foundation

In a noteworthy commitment made shortly after his appointment as the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie pledged to donate his entire parliamentary salary to establish a foundation in memory of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith from Saldanha Bay.

This initiative was intended to honour her legacy and raise crucial awareness about the ongoing issue of missing children in South Africa.

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The Pledge and Its Significance

McKenzie made a bold statement, declaring, “I will donate 100% of my parliamentary salary to the Joshlin Smith Foundation for missing children.”

This pledge was met with public appreciation, as it aimed not only to commemorate Joshlin’s life but also to highlight the urgent need for action regarding child safety in the country. Such initiatives are vital for community engagement and advocacy around the protection of vulnerable children.

Current Status and Concerns

However, several months have passed since this promise was made, and recent inquiries reveal that the promised foundation has yet to be registered.

The Department of Social Development has confirmed that no such foundation exists at this time. This has raised concerns among members of the opposition, including DA MP Liam Chad Jacobs, who questioned the legitimacy of McKenzie’s commitment during a parliamentary Q&A session.

“The Joshlin Smith Foundation is not registered as a nonprofit organisation (NPO) in terms of sections 13 of the NPO Act and has not submitted any application for registration in terms of the act administered by the department of social development,” said Tolashe.

The delay in establishing the Joshlin Smith Foundation has ignited discussions about accountability and transparency within governmental pledges.

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McKenzie was chastised by several politicians for exploiting the missing child case as a campaign tactic in this year’s elections.

Joshlin went missing on February 19, and her mother, Racquel Chantal Smith, first told authorities that she had left the child with her boyfriend, Jacques Rowhan Appolis, at their home in the Middlebos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay, because she was ill. The child’s disappearance triggered a frenzied search by neighbourhood members and police. Joshlin has not been found.