SAHRC Probes Gayton McKenzie Over Alleged Racist and Xenophobic Remarks

A storm brews over resurfaced posts and a controversial live video

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has opened a formal investigation into Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, following widespread outrage over remarks made both in a recent live video and in old social media posts that have resurfaced.

The uproar began after McKenzie used a racial slur during a live stream, sparking immediate backlash from political parties, civil society groups, and members of the public. The SAHRC confirmed that it had received multiple complaints after becoming aware of the remarks on August 9, 2025, prompting it to take action.

What triggered the investigation?

The controversy is rooted in two layers: the minister’s recent live video, and a digital trail of posts dating back over a decade.

In the live video, McKenzie used the K-word while speaking about his party, the Patriotic Alliance, and its clash with the hosts of the “Open Chats Podcast.” The podcast had previously made disparaging remarks about the coloured community, which McKenzie condemned. But in doing so, his own language set off alarm bells.

Not long after, older posts from McKenzie’s 2011–2017 timeline resurfaced. These included apartheid-era racial slurs directed at black South Africans and comments mocking the term “Black Diamond.” The SAHRC says these utterances could amount to violations of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000, also known as the Equality Act.

What the law says

While freedom of speech is protected in South Africa’s Constitution, it is not absolute. The SAHRC has reminded the public that hate speech is explicitly prohibited under both the Equality Act and the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act, 2023.

If the commission proceeds, McKenzie could find himself facing proceedings in the Equality Court.

McKenzie’s response

For his part, McKenzie has denied being racist, framing the controversy as a politically motivated smear campaign driven by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and online influencers.

He has, however, admitted that some of his older posts were “insensitive, stupid, and hurtful,” confessing that he was once a “troll” who now cringes at his past behaviour.

“My mother was black and I have children with a black woman,” he said. “I fought my whole life for equal treatment between black and coloured people. I can never be guilty of racism.”

Public reaction

The fallout has split opinion on social media. Some South Africans have condemned McKenzie outright, arguing that his language both past and present is unacceptable for a government minister. Others, however, have defended him, suggesting that the timing of the resurfaced posts is suspicious and politically convenient.

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #GaytonMcKenzie trended within hours of the controversy breaking. Memes, screenshots, and heated debates flooded timelines, with many users calling on McKenzie to step down while others accused his critics of hypocrisy.

A familiar controversy in SA politics

McKenzie’s case adds to South Africa’s long list of political figures caught in scandals over race, identity, and language. From Penny Sparrow’s 2016 racist rant to various public officials accused of hate speech, the debate around what counts as “free speech” versus “hate speech” continues to dominate the country’s social and political discourse.

The SAHRC’s decision to act reflects growing pressure on leaders to hold higher ethical standards, especially when it comes to language that can inflame racial or xenophobic tensions in a country still healing from apartheid’s legacy.

The SAHRC has already sent McKenzie a letter of allegations. If it decides to escalate, the Equality Court could hear the case. In the meantime, McKenzie says he is willing to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Whether the scandal derails his political standing or fuels his image as a defiant, unapologetic leader remains to be seen.

{Source: IOL}

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