Johannesburg – Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie issued a public apology for offensive tweets he posted over a decade ago, but strongly denied allegations of racism. The Patriotic Alliance leader said the political party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is behind a campaign targeting him.
The controversy erupted last week after old tweets resurfaced on social media, following McKenzie’s call for accountability against hosts of the Open Chats Podcast for racist remarks about coloured people.
During a Facebook Live broadcast, McKenzie questioned how he could be racist against black people when he himself is black. He described his mixed heritage, saying he is the son of a black woman and has children with a black woman. He said he has spent his life fighting for equal treatment between black and coloured South Africans.
McKenzie denied ever using racial slurs to insult individuals directly, asking, “Where are the victims?” He accused the EFF and social media influencers of launching a politically motivated attack against him.
One tweet from 2011 drew particular criticism. McKenzie responded “Bulls**t” to a user’s comment defending the use of racial slurs within coloured communities. He said he was calling out the language, not endorsing it. However, several tweets containing racial slurs attributed to McKenzie have been found, some of which he deleted.
The minister described the timing of the campaign as deliberate, coinciding with election season. “They went back 11 years… Do you know how much money it takes to investigate everything in your life?” he said.
McKenzie also spoke about the identity and struggles of coloured South Africans, saying they do not enjoy the same privileges as black South Africans despite fighting the same apartheid struggle. He identifies as mixed race, including African and Japanese ancestry, and said coloured people have been treated as second-class citizens for too long.
Further controversy arose from an eight-month-old video where McKenzie admitted to past sexual assault behaviours during his time as a gangster. He used the confession to counsel young men against disrespecting women.
Political pressure has grown, with ActionSA filing a complaint to the South African Human Rights Commission accusing McKenzie of racism. The Democratic Alliance’s John Steenhuisen also condemned McKenzie’s use of racial slurs, calling for leaders to be more responsible with their language.
Despite the backlash, McKenzie said he remains committed to non-racial politics and has offered leadership opportunities to black politicians in his party. The Patriotic Alliance continues to support him, denying claims of racism.
McKenzie apologised for his past online behaviour, describing it as “insensitive, stupid and hurtful” trolling. “I cringe when seeing them and I am truly sorry for that,” he said.
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