Gayton McKenzie
By Karabo Marifi
Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has called on the South African government to improve its relationship with the United States following recent tensions over the country’s Expropriation Act. This appeal comes in the wake of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s decision to skip the upcoming G20 meeting in Johannesburg, citing concerns over South Africa’s land reform policies.
The Expropriation Act, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, allows for the expropriation of land without compensation under specific circumstances deemed to be in the public interest. This legislation has been a point of contention between South Africa and the U.S., with former President Donald Trump previously accusing the South African government of confiscating land and mistreating certain groups. In response, Trump threatened to cut U.S. funding to South Africa until the matter was investigated. President Ramaphosa clarified that his administration operates within the law and aims to address historical land disparities.
In 2024, South Africa exported goods worth over $6.5 billion (approximately R120.88 billion) to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), supporting key industries such as automotive manufacturing, agriculture, and mining. Additionally, in 2023, Washington committed $440 million (around R8.18 billion) in assistance to South Africa, with $315 million (about R5.86 billion) allocated for HIV/AIDS programs. President Ramaphosa noted that U.S. funding accounts for 17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS program but is not significant in other areas.
Minister McKenzie took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns, stating: “We should try by all means to restore ties with the U.S. government, but let us open our eyes and minds. Let’s make good use of our minerals and extract the maximum benefit for our people.” He cautioned against retaliatory actions that could jeopardize trade relations, emphasizing the potential consequences of opposing a major trading partner. “I see some call me an a* licker; as a leader of the people, I would lick a* if it means I keep my people alive and in jobs,” McKenzie remarked. “South Africa is not in a position to tell the U.S. to go to hell unless we are willing to carry the consequences. I am just facing reality.”
McKenzie has previously criticized President Ramaphosa for not consulting coalition partners before signing the Expropriation Act into law, stating that the President “stabbed us in the back.”  He has also urged white South Africans to “tell the truth” about the Act, asserting that land is not being taken from them and that the government’s public relations efforts regarding the bill have been inadequate. 
The Expropriation Act has been a focal point of international debate, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing his decision to skip the G20 meeting in South Africa. Rubio criticized South Africa’s land reform policies and its promotion of “solidarity, equality, & sustainability” at the G20, equating these initiatives to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and climate change agendas. He stated, “South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote ‘solidarity, equality, & sustainability.’ In other words: DEI and climate change.”
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