A fiery online clash between EFF MP Sihle Lonzi and Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie has stirred controversy in the ever-volatile arena of South African politics.
In the fiery “twar” (Twitter war) that broke out on X on June 8, 2025, the two political titans traded jabs that combined scathing political criticism with scathing personal attacks.
The conflict began when McKenzie’s performance as a minister in a government of national unity was criticised by Lonzi, the vocal president of the EFF Student Command.
Lonzi blasted McKenzie in a harsh X post for not fulfilling high-profile pledges, such as bringing Formula 1 to South Africa, bringing video assistant referee (VAR) technology to South African football, and promoting sports and the arts in townships and rural areas.
Rift between parties’ positions
“McKenzie talks a big game, but where’s the action? No VAR, no Formula 1, no progress for our communities,” Lonzi posted, challenging the Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader’s credibility.
Never one to back down from a fight, McKenzie responded with his signature flair, launching a personal jab that ignited X.
“Sihle Lonzi is just the Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi from Temu,” he quipped, mocking Lonzi as a cheap imitation of the former EFF spokesperson and MP.
The “Temu” reference, alluding to a budget online marketplace, drew chuckles from some users but escalated the feud.
Lonzi retaliated, claiming that the PA had failed to address illegal immigration, a key component of McKenzie’s platform.
“Your party’s obsessed with foreigners but does nothing about it. Focus on your job, minister,” Lonzi retorted.
The exchange, which quickly went viral, highlighted the deep rift between the EFF’s radical economic agenda and the PA’s nationalist, anti-immigrant stance.
Social media platform X users divided
There was disagreement among X users; some praised the drama, while others criticised it as being distracting.
“Lonzi’s got a point — McKenzie’s promises are empty,” posted @RedBeretFan, while @PA4Life countered: “Sihle’s just jealous. Gayton’s shaking things up in government.”
Memes flooded the platform, with one viral image juxtaposing Lonzi’s fiery rhetoric with McKenzie’s smirking retort.
The exchange was not the first clash between the two.
Lonzi criticised McKenzie’s governance skills in October 2024, accusing him of being inexperienced.
McKenzie, a former gangster-turned-politician, has leaned into his outsider status, using X to connect with supporters and deflect critics.
“I’m in the ring delivering for South Africans, not shouting from the sidelines like some,” McKenzie posted post-war, doubling down on his combative stance.
