Johannesburg – Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has moved to “calm the waters” after South Africa’s most decorated Olympian, Tatjana Smith, announced she was switching sporting allegiance to the Netherlands.
World Aquatics has approved her change of nationality.
Reacting to the move on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) said: “Smith’s decision is a final wake-up call about the decline at Swimming South Africa (SSA), and urgent action must now be taken to save the dysfunctional body from total collapse”.
The VF Plus said it will ask Sport, Arts and Culture GaytonGayton McKenzie to intervene urgently.
Some reports claimed a dispute over prize money Tatjana earned following her medal-winning performances at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships may have prompted her decision to turn her back on South Africa.
Commenting on the matter, Minister McKenzie said Tatjana told him about her decision before she went public.
Minister McKenzie thanked her for the courtesy, which he said spoke “a great deal about her character”.
However, the minister said, “Tatjana’s choice belongs to her, and it should not be turned into a political weapon”.
Dispelling suggestions that he was to blame for Tatjana opting to represent the Netherlands, Minister McKenzie explained that sporting codes in South Africa were run by independent bodies governed by their own boards and they answer to international bodies.
In a statement, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture said: “It is regrettable that some people have used a deeply personal decision by one of South Africa’s most loved athletes to attack the minister”.
The department said it had twice honoured Tatjana at the South African Sports Awards, including with prize money.
“That recognition reflected the pride the whole country feels in what she had done for South Africa,” the department said.
Tatjana retired after becoming South Africa’s most decorated Olympian.
When Tatjana recently announced that she was coming out of retirement to compete again, the country was delighted at the prospect of her return to the pool.
But Minister McKenzie pointed out that “South Africa does not own her; she is her own person, and she deserves only success and happiness”.
“Nothing can erase what Tatjana has achieved for South Africa,” Minister McKenzie said
“We now have to share her with the Netherlands, but I have no doubt that her love for South Africa is as strong as ever.
“We wish her only the very best, much love and even more success.”
