Gayton McKenzie: ‘Failing Matric isn’t the end of the world’

Gayton McKenzie has shared a message of encouragement to learners who have failed their Matric year.

The Minister of Sport, Art and Culture is one of a handful of cabinet leaders who do not have an academic qualification.

GAYTON MCKENZIE SHARES MESSAGE TO MATRICS WHO FAILED

In a Facebook post, Gayton McKenzie sent a motivational message to the Class of 2025.

He shared an experience of meeting a friend, a successful businessman with dealings in the construction industry.

Gayton posted: “He recently sold his construction business for an obscene amount of money. He told me about his various plans for the next ten years, which are all very exciting.

“Why am I sharing my friend’s story, [It is because] he failed matric 30 years ago.  There are kids who failed yesterday, but failing yesterday doesn’t close your tomorrow. Failing matric is not the end of the world. Failing matric doesn’t mean join the gangs or become nothing, let this bump in the road become your inspiration”.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DOES MINISTER HAVE?

Gayton McKenzie has been open and transparent about his lack of a post-matric qualification.

In 2022, he tweeted: “I have no problem being asked for my ID or where I am from. I was born in Pelenomi Hospital, and attended Olympia Primary School and Heatherdale Secondary School, all in Bloemfontein.”

Gayton does, however, have multiple business interests and investments in various fields, including nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, event venues, logistics and transport, imports, energy, mining, and farming. He jokingly added: “I obtained a PHD ( Passed High School with Difficulty)”.

Last year, he shared his “secret to success” in a Facebook post. 

He shared: “I was asked to give the best secret to success by a group of people, without thinking or blinking, I told them to love people, be kind, love people. Thank me later in your life for this truth”.