Gayton McKenzie, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, has issued a public apology after old social media posts containing racial slurs resurfaced, sparking public outrage and political backlash.
Gayton McKenzie apologises amid mounting political pressure
The posts, shared more than a decade ago, include language widely recognised as offensive towards black South Africans.
Opposition parties, including the EFF, ATM, and ActionSA, have called for McKenzie’s removal from Cabinet.
ActionSA has also lodged a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and says it may pursue the matter in the Equality Court.
The resurfaced posts reportedly include the “k-word,” a derogatory term used during apartheid to insult and demean black South Africans. ActionSA described the remarks as “hateful slurs” and “offensive references” that degrade and dehumanise people based on race.
Under South African law, such language can be classified as hate speech and lead to civil or criminal proceedings. The Equality Court can impose penalties, order public apologies, or require sensitivity training for offenders.
McKenzie’s defence and apology
Responding on X (formerly Twitter), McKenzie claimed that the posts had been taken out of context and that his record on opposing racism speaks for itself. He said:
“I did tweet some insensitive, stupid and hurtful things a decade or two ago. I was a troll & stupid. I cringe when seeing them and I am truly sorry for that. I shall subject myself to the investigation.”
McKenzie also stressed his lifelong commitment to equality between black and coloured South Africans, stating:
“I can never be guilty of racism… Coloured people don’t enjoy the same privileges as black people in South Africa although we fought the same struggle. This has always been my fight.”
The timing of the resurfaced tweets comes just days after McKenzie led a public campaign against the Open Chats Podcast, whose hosts made derogatory remarks about the coloured community.
The Patriotic Alliance, which McKenzie leads, has taken legal action against the podcast, demanding the episode be removed from YouTube and pledging to approach the Equality Court.
McKenzie condemned the remarks on the show, saying:
“It has become too easy to insult coloured people in this country. Enough is enough.”
The SAHRC will now investigate the complaint against McKenzie. If it finds that the posts amount to hate speech, the matter could be referred to the Equality Court or even result in criminal charges.
For now, McKenzie has been reposting older tweets where he condemned racism, possibly in an effort to remind the public of his broader stance on race relations.
However, political calls for his removal from Cabinet continue to grow.