- Sizwe Dhlomo fired shots at Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie on X after Rwanda secured a 10-year Formula 1 calendar agreement
- The Rwanda F1 deal reignited debate about South Africa's own Grand Prix ambitions and government capacity
- X users rallied behind Sizwe's take, with many questioning McKenzie's ability to deliver for South Africa
Source: Getty Images
Broadcaster Sizwe Dhlomo pulled no punches on X this Wednesday, 14 October 2026, publicly criticising Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie after news broke that Rwanda had secured a landmark 10-year Formula 1 agreement to join the racing calendar in the early 2030s.
The deal, which involves building a permanent circuit in Bugesera, approximately 40 km south of Kigali, sent shockwaves through motorsport circles and reignited frustration in South Africa, a country that has long flirted with the idea of hosting a Grand Prix.
Dhlomo's comments came in response to a post by verified X user @NgwenyaNhla, who praised the Rwandan representative involved in the deal as "beautiful, poised," while arguing that South Africa remains far ahead in terms of commercial and development capability. Ngwenya suggested that someone like businesswoman Onke Mjo could deliver a more polished result if given the platform.
Dhlomo agreed with the sentiment but went further, cutting straight to the political obstacle.
"The problem is Gayton can't guarantee that he'll be minister next year, much less in 2030. Plus, he's an idiot," he wrote.
See the post below:
Former F1 driver Alex Wurz, whose company is involved in designing the Rwandan circuit, has also suggested that Rwanda could be just the start of F1's African expansion, raising the stakes even higher for South Africa's delayed ambitions.
Netizens react to Sizwe Dhlomo's assessment
The post drew a wave of responses from X users who largely agreed with Dhlomo's read of the situation.
@mingasPC wrote:
"The only celebrities who tell him straight who he really is are you and @Bonang"
@Do_meM was pointed in their frustration:
"Cyril Ramaphosa's Administration is the worst this country has ever had. I note the election outcomes, but Gayton a whole minister? 😩🙃 I'm certain that the corruption that will be uncovered when he is finally removed will be mind-blowing."
@zukofipaza raised concerns about credibility in high-stakes negotiations:
"Deals are concluded based on trust; you cannot strike with a former commercial crimes prisoner in a commercial gig. Those guys are real hawks, and they don't want someone who has the ability to blackmail them in future with what he might know that not everyone is supposed to..."
@TalimoMola98649 redirected the criticism more broadly:
"The bigger idiots are those who looked at him, listened to him and thought, 'that right there is my leader.'"
@ThabisoMat99590 offered a contrarian view:
"He is polishing his mabahambe campaign as we speak; he might actually surprise you"
@mwaonawo compared McKenzie unfavourably to another figure:
"😂😂 Right. It's happening before your eyes; compare Gayton and Xolani; he has zero academic qualifications except sizokuthola."
Source: Getty Images
Sizwe Dhlomo reacts to Gayton McKenzie's FIFA World Cup bill
This isn't the first time the former Kaya FM host has criticised Gayton McKenzie.
Briefly News previously reported that Sizwe Dhlomo's response to Gayton McKenzie's R31 million World Cup expenses ignited debate.
Public reactions were divided over transparency versus the need to spend on the FIFA World Cup delegation.
Source: Briefly News
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