Gayton McKenzie: The GNU & VAT; AfriForum & America - and the Zuma threat in 2029

In this wide-ranging interview with BizNews, Gayton McKenzie, the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, gives behind-the-scenes insights into the stance of political parties on VAT and the postponement of the Budget speech. “We had our biggest test for me since joining the GNU this week…I say we passed that test with flying colours.” However, he calls on all political leaders to “restrain ourselves from beating our chest and then making the GNU look bad”. McKenzie stresses that the GNU is “sacrosanct” to the future of South Africa - and says: “If this GNU fails, I am leaving this country.” He also speaks about his meeting with AfriForum, saying: “What we managed to agree on is one thing: that there's no white genocide”. However, he says the African National Congress (ANC) was “very clumsy” in its handling of the Expropriation with Compensation Bill - and the GNU now has to craft new foreign policy. As for the next national elections, McKenzie warns: “Zuma is the threat for the GNU in 2029….You will see President Zuma in 2029 if the GNU doesn’t stop him."