Cape Town – Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has ignited both controversy and debate after openly endorsing the actions of the United States’ immigration enforcement agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In an interview with SportsBoom.co.za, McKenzie — who is also the leader of the Patriotic Alliance — spoke in forthright terms about ICE’s deportation activities in the United States, which have been widely criticised internationally following reports of alleged violent confrontations and detainee deaths. “I totally agree with ICE,”
McKenzie said. “We must do the same here with what they’re doing there. I cannot criticise something that I want in my own country.”
Addressing concerns about safety and immigration for South Africans planning to travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup — which the United States, Mexico and Canada will jointly host — McKenzie dismissed calls for a boycott.
“If you want to go to the World Cup and you have a visa, what problems do you have? … I won’t be politically correct viva ICE! I agree with Donald Trump,” he said, underscoring his belief that adherence to visa rules should allay fears about travelling to the event.
McKenzie went further, disparaging those opposing the tournament boycott, saying they were “suffering from cow disease” and warning the country could face exclusion from international football. “The repercussions for South Africa would be severe, and we would be banned from international football,” he said.
Many are saying that @realDonaldTrump has no business telling us what to do, I will argue differently, when a man pays some of your bills and he feels that he disagrees with certain behaviour of yours, he has a right to ask, intervene or even instruct. That’s the uncomfortable…
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) February 3, 2025
The minister even ventured into sporting optimism, predicting success for the national team: “There is no country like South Africa, and I definitely think we will win the World Cup,” he declared, a view that contrasts sharply with historical performance expectations.
However, the Presidency moved to distance itself from McKenzie’s remarks. According to Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, McKenzie’s comments should be understood in the context of his role as a political party leader, not as the official voice of government policy.
“Minister McKenzie leads his own political party. Not everything he says is in his official capacity as a government minister,” Magwenya said.
“We do not have to comment on everything he says as a political party leader”, reported Daily News.
McKenzie’s alignment with Trump’s immigration approach continues a pattern of outspoken comments from the minister, who has in the past publicly voiced admiration for the former US president. In earlier remarks, he said of Trump: “I love Donald Trump. He is a president of peace … I love that! I have no problem with him.”
Minister Gayton McKenzie express his admiration for U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting with AfriForum. pic.twitter.com/zsiaZ3i349
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) February 18, 2025
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
