Julius Malema has taken a below-the-belt shot at golfer Gary Player, who has called on the South African government to abolish transformative legislation, like Black Economic Empowerment.
The Economic Freedom Front (EFF) leader has even gone as far as to figuratively wish death upon the veteran sports star.
Over the weekend, Gary – who splits his time between SA and the US – celebrated his 90th birthday with a golf tournament and a glamorous bash at Sun City.
MALEMA TAKES A SHOT AT GARY PLAYER
Over the weekend, Gary Player shared his wish for his 90th birthday – for his home country to abolish laws like the Expropriation Bill and BEE.
The nonagenarian also voiced his concerns that both his properties and his businesses could suffer as a result.
He told the media: “Introducing a bill, no compensation…I brought back hundreds of millions of Rands to South Africa. I bought farms and property. They could come in and take it. That means they’re stealing it. So we are discouraging people to invest. We’ve got to get rid of that law…And you’ve got to get rid of this BEE system.
Gary Player stated that authorities “weren’t listening” to him.
He added, “People are not prepared to come here and invest money. We’ve got to have systems like the rest of the world. Where you encourage people to come and invest.”
Laughing off Gary’s claims, Malema brazenly posted on his X account: “He must sleep nonstop”.
ANOTHER BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN OPPOSES BEE TOO
Gary Player is not the only South African-born businessman who is opposed to BEE and land expropriation.
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk – who was born in Pretoria – has also vented his frustrations at having to abide by the transformative legislation.
The billionaire claimed that a requirement for his internet satellite service company, Starlink, to operate in South Africa – adhering to a percentage of local ownership – was an “openly racist law”.
He also claimed that he was being discriminated against as he “was not black”.
Not long thereafter, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi issued a statement on a draft “policy direction on equity equivalent investment programmes” (EEIPs) in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
In it, he stated that the EEIP policy direction would allow qualifying multinationals to engage with the department through “alternatives to 30% ownership”.
Speaking to EFF supporters in the Eastern Cape in May, Malema accused the government of bypassing BEE compliance to accommodate Musk.
He said: “Elon Musk’s business cannot come to South Africa if it has not complied with 30% BEE.
“There is no such law in South Africa. Starlink will not come into South Africa if it does not comply with the BEE.”
He added: “That 30% must go to black people, as many as possible. Because we want to benefit from our economy. Comrades, we must never be dictated to by business”.
