South African Politicians Clash Over US G20 Snub
- South Africa's Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, engaged in a heated argument on X.
- The disagreement arose after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. would not attend the G20 Summit in Johannesburg this November.
- While McKenzie believes the government should mend ties with the U.S., Mashaba criticized the U.S.'s decision to withdraw from the summit.
With nine years of experience in political analysis and interviews, Tebogo Mokwena, affiliated with Briefly News, has provided insightful coverage for outlets like Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News in South Africa.
GAUTENG — The social media platform X turned into a political battlefield when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the U.S. would not attend the G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025. This decision set off a fiery exchange between Patriotic Alliance president Gayton McKenzie and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, leaving many South Africans wondering where the country stands in its relationship with the U.S.
What Sparked the X Debate?
Gayton McKenzie, using his @GaytonMcK X account, responded to the news of Marco Rubio's decision not to attend the G20 Summit. Rubio, aligned with President Donald Trump, accused the South African government of land expropriation under the Expropriation Act. McKenzie took a conciliatory tone, suggesting the government should make every effort to repair relations with the U.S., emphasizing the importance of diplomacy.
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Take a look at McKenzie's X post here:
Herman Mashaba, however, was not on the same page. On his @HermanMashaba X account, he expressed confusion over McKenzie’s stance and criticized the U.S. for basing its foreign policy decisions on what he described as "fake news." Mashaba argued that the U.S. shouldn't dictate South Africa's policies, especially when the accusations are unsubstantiated.
Check out Mashaba’s response on X here:
McKenzie Fires Back
Not one to back down, McKenzie retorted to Mashaba’s comments, challenging him to provide a constructive suggestion for moving forward. He emphasized that he had already put his ideas on the table and encouraged Mashaba to do the same.
"I agree it's fake news. But let me hear your solution. I laid mine out there with courage. Now, it's your turn to step up and speak."
See McKenzie’s comeback here:
Understanding the USA's Stance and Trump's Influence
- Donald Trump recently declared intentions to halt all aid to South Africa, accusing the government of unjust land seizures from white citizens.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa rebutted Trump's claims, asserting that the government does not seize private land without due process, as outlined in the Expropriation Act.
- AfriForum faced backlash after urging the U.S. government to impose sanctions on the African National Congress, sparking controversy in South Africa.
Public Reaction to the X Exchange
The public was not shy about sharing their thoughts on the heated exchange between McKenzie and Mashaba. Many South Africans took to the platform to express their frustration with the politicians' inability to focus on more pressing issues.
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Jazzy Jay remarked:
"Why don't you move to the U.S. and join your landlord brother? Over there, you can dance for scraps and live off crumbs."
Costa chimed in:
"You both are absolutely pathetic."
BigG had an interesting suggestion:
"Maybe we should scrap Parliament altogether and have all MPs debate national issues openly on X. Let the people decide."
G-man couldn't help but find some humor in the situation:
"There's something oddly entertaining about watching two politicians go at it on X."
TC summed it up:
"You guys are ridiculous. This is not helping anyone."
Ramaphosa Calls Elon Musk Amid Criticism
In a related development, Briefly News reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa reached out to billionaire Elon Musk, with Musk's father, Errol, facilitating the call. This move came after Musk accused South Africa of implementing racially discriminatory laws. South Africans were not pleased with Ramaphosa's outreach, questioning the priorities of the government in addressing international criticism rather than domestic issues.
As tensions rise both domestically and internationally, the South African political landscape continues to evolve, with social media acting as a platform for heated debates and public discourse.
