Gareth Cliff Reacts to Claims BEE Costs South Africa Between R149 Billion and R290 Billion a Year

• Broadcaster Gareth Cliff reacted to claims that laws like BEE cost South Africa between R149 billion and R290 billion annually
• Cliff's sharp quip about the ANC's 'toolbox' came after Solidarity's Jaco Kleynhans warned that the government wants to impose even more laws on institutions
• Mzansi weighed in with their own takes on the ANC's approach to governance, with many agreeing with Cliff's assessment

Broadcaster Gareth Cliff had Mzansi talking on Friday, 28 August 2026, after he took a sharp dig at the ANC over its push for stricter transformation laws at universities. His reaction came in response to a post by Solidarity Head of Public Liaison Jaco Kleynhans, who claimed that legislation such as Black Economic Empowerment costs the South African economy between R149 billion and R290 billion a year.

Kleynhans had shared a news article about higher education institutions falling short on equity requirements, with the Department of Higher Education reportedly warning universities to improve transformation or face stricter enforcement. His post argued that the government should be pulling back on laws such as BEE, not doubling down on them.

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Cliff's response was brief but biting.

"When the only thing you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Not many tools in the ANC toolbox, I'm afraid," he wrote on X.

See the post below:

Mzansi reacts to Gareth Cliff's ANC jab

The post struck a chord with his followers, who flooded the replies with their own takes, many of them turning his "tools" metaphor into a running joke.

@savagemyers fired back with a cheeky twist:

"But Gareth, there are many tools on the ANC.....just not useful ones 🤣🤣🤣"

@pauloxleyspare played along:

"Au contraire, mon ami. The ANC is chock full of tools..."

@Dazfuzz added:

"You forgot the sickle…"

@solfuvks kept it simple:

"Lots of tools, the actual cadres"

@TheWobster had a blunter verdict:

"Utter incompetence."

Gareth Cliff slams SA media's tribute to Jason Arday

Days before targeting the ANC, Gareth Cliff had fired back at a South African publication that paid tribute to late Cambridge professor Jason Arday.

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Cliff's response drew sharp reactions from followers, with some turning the spotlight on South African institutions.

Source: Briefly News