“I Was Wrong About Him”: Gayton McKenzie says he was wrong about Johann After White House Visit

After meeting with Trump and Ramaphosa at the White House, McKenzie praises Johann Rupert as a “Patriot.”

In a startling shift in stance, South African Minister Gayton McKenzie has publicly hailed billionaire Johann Rupert as a “true patriot” after Rupert visited the White House with former US President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa.

McKenzie claimed on social media site X (formerly Twitter) that he had previously miscalculated Rupert. He wrote, “Rupert is a true patriot; he is not who we think he is.” “I want to be the first to acknowledge that I was mistaken about him, and he loves this country.”

Rupert is not who we think he is, he is a true Patriot. He loves this country and I wanna be the first to admit that I was wrong about him. He spoke up against killing on flats, he spoke against illegal foreigners but most importantly he stood up for South Africa. He is a gem ?? pic.twitter.com/qlmBwnbfwt

— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) May 21, 2025

Shortly after Rupert took center stage at high-level talks in Washington, DC, where he addressed the urgent problem of South Africa’s skyrocketing crime rate, the tone changed. Rupert directly appealed to Trump for help, emphasizing the urgent need for technology in the nation, especially at local police stations.

Rupert compared South Africa’s problems to New York’s previous conflicts with crime, saying, “We need Starlink at every little police station.” He underlined that crime knows no racial bounds and that everyone is impacted by the violence, not just white farmers.

In keeping with his dedication to conservation, Rupert also disclosed that he had obtained drone assistance through the Peace Parks program to fight wildlife poaching. He warned that without growth, “the culture of dependency and lawlessness will increase” and linked South Africa’s crime problems to more general economic problems like unemployment and illegal immigration.

Rupert’s worries were echoed by President Ramaphosa, who noted that unemployment and inequality encourage crime. He reaffirmed the visit’s objective of increasing trade and investment between the US and South Africa by saying, “Crime really thrives where there is inequality.”

Rupert wasn’t afraid to criticize domestic political figures. He specifically criticized DA leader John Steenhuisen for what he called a lack of urgency regarding gang violence in the Western Cape.

Although McKenzie has previously criticized South Africa’s wealthy elite, his recent commendation shows that he appreciates Rupert’s efforts to represent the nation abroad. He defended South Africa. “He’s a treasure,” McKenzie said.

Rupert’s visit to Washington has rekindled discussions about leadership, public safety, and patriotism both domestically and internationally as demands for concrete steps to fight crime and boost the economy increase.

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Sourced:IOL