Gary Player Unfairly Criticized By John Goliath
In the Mercury Edition of 5 November 2025, an individual called John Goliath held nothing back as he blasted one of our most iconic sports heroes, Gary Player, for speaking out against the obvious facts of BEE being an utter failure for 30 plus years. Goliath kept referencing the most obvious example of another sportsman and golfer- a non-White player called Papwa Sewgolum- who did not enjoy the same privileges as did Gary Player. Was it Gary’s fault that Apartheid was alive and well back then? Or did Mr Player just find himself stuck in an era where politics were very different and South Africa was a very different version of what it is today?
I find it very interesting and hypocritical of Mr Goliath to personally attack an individual such as Player, given the immense contributions that Gary has made to our country, whether it be through his illustrious golfing career or his infectious charm off the golf course. I once bumped into Player myself at the Durban Country club, and being a rugby player, and wearing shorts that particular day, he couldn’t help but do what he always does- as he walked past me on the 10th hole, he noticed my calf muscles and said, “With those calves you can kickstart a Boeing!” He never hesitates to share a compliment, and he has always been a very uplifting person, in my view! Despite being such a majorly successful sports star himself, he still finds time to chat to the average Joe along the way, or on the local course. Furthermore, Player’s incredible Golf and Equestrian Estate called Blair Atholl serves as a testament to his talent, his charisma and his determination! The man who used to own a famous Karoo stud farm, which was sold in 2016, lives a very peaceful life. His son manages the Gary Player Group, where he represents his father regarding all commercial activities, endorsements, licensing and golf course designing.
Born in 1935 and nicknamed ‘The Black Knight’ and ‘Mr Fitness’, this 168 cm man will leave behind him a legacy that very few other people would be able to. Mr Goliath wastes no time badmouthing Mr Player and accusing him mostly of things that were never within his control. Player’s description of SA being the land of squatter camps is not only true, but he could have added a few damning facts to his statement- how about the Land of the Guptas? Or the land of Black Elite Empowerment- where only a connected few enrich themselves at the expense of the taxpayer? Or how about the Land of Blackouts and failing infrastructure? The list goes on and on… I can think of so many other metaphors- Gary only used one.
I have a huge problem with people such as John Goliath, who bemoans the current state of our country and blames every bit of inequality on the White Afrikaner, or the ‘Apartheid’ government of the 80″s- where is the responsibility of the ANC, who has been handed power on a silver platter for 30 years now, and how come they never get to take any of the blame for the sheer incompetence, greed and lack of leadership that has plagued its party for 3 decades now? How can anybody in their rightful mind still blame Apartheid for today’s failures from a government who has literally brought South Africa to its knees, punished the White population with aggressive BEE laws, and marginalized minority groups to such an extent that the thousands upon thousands of skilled workers have left our shores and given up their family heritage, businesses and livelihoods, to go live in New Zealand, where the sun hardly shines and braais are few and far between? Is that fair, Mr Goliath? And what exactly do we who were born after Apartheid have to do with today’s collapsing economy, when the Black Elite have enjoyed Business Class flights, blue light brigades, secured multiple tenders, owned multi-million Rand properties and who doesn’t pay for electricity or other essential services? Is all of this also Gary Player’s fault?
Mr Goliath must go take a hard look at himself in the mirror and ask himself: what has the ANC done for SA, at all, which was good, or for Black minorities? Secondly, show us your success, in comparison to Gary Player’s, since the last 30 years we have had such a free and fair democracy? The time for blaming Apartheid and blame shifting must end. Not Gary Player, nor any White Afrikaner person should be held accountable for the ANC’s blatant nepotism and corruption! It’s time to move on!
