Malema Slams Gary Player Over BEE Ban Call Amid Birthday Controversy

Julius Malema has taken aim at golfing legend Gary Player after the 90-year-old called on the South African government to scrap transformative legislation, including Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader did not hold back, using his social media platform to deliver a scathing, almost hostile remark aimed at the veteran sportsman.

Player, who divides his time between South Africa and the United States, recently celebrated his 90th birthday with a golf tournament and lavish party at Sun City. During the celebrations, he expressed his desire for South Africa to abolish laws like the Expropriation Bill and BEE.

Gary Player Voices Concerns Over Investment Risks and BEE

Speaking to the media, Player said: “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.”

He also claimed authorities “weren’t listening” to his warnings. “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.”

In response, Malema took to X, writing, “He must sleep nonstop,” dismissing Player’s concerns with a laugh.

BEE Debate Extends Beyond Golfers to International Entrepreneurs

Player is not alone in his opposition to BEE and land expropriation policies. Pretoria-born billionaire Elon Musk has also criticised the legislation, claiming that compliance requirements for his Starlink business in South Africa were an “openly racist law” and discriminatory because he is “not black.”

Following Musk’s comments, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi released a draft policy allowing multinational ICT companies alternatives to the standard 30% local ownership requirement under BEE.

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Malema has previously used Musk’s case to highlight his stance on transformative laws, telling EFF supporters in the Eastern Cape, “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. 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.”

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