SAHRC Probes Gayton McKenzie Over Resurfaced K-word Tweets

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is set to meet this week to consider a racism complaint against Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie after old tweets in which he allegedly used the K-word resurfaced online.

The complaint, filed by ActionSA, is based on social media posts dating back more than a decade, some as far back as 2011. ActionSA argues that the language used in these tweets violates the dignity of Black South Africans, particularly given McKenzie’s role in Cabinet.

Alan Beesley, ActionSA MP, said the matter is about protecting the dignity of all South Africans and ensuring that those in high office uphold the Constitution. If the SAHRC process does not lead to action, the party says it will escalate the case to the Equality Court.

More political pressure mounts

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has also lodged a separate complaint with Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests, calling McKenzie’s language divisive and damaging to national unity.

ATM leader Vuyo Zungula accused McKenzie of hypocrisy, pointing out that the minister had recently condemned a podcast for making derogatory remarks about the coloured community, yet past tweets allegedly show him using offensive racial slurs against Black people. Zungula stressed that the podcasters are not elected officials, whereas McKenzie has constitutional and ethical obligations.

The EFF has joined the calls for accountability, demanding McKenzie’s removal from office and a public apology to Black South Africans.

McKenzie’s defence

McKenzie has strongly denied being racist, claiming the backlash is politically motivated following his defence of the coloured community in the podcast controversy. He maintains that he has fought his whole life for unity between Coloured and Black South Africans, citing his own mixed heritage and his upbringing by a Black mother.

“I have always advocated for unity amongst races. We are one nation under God. They can all come for me, ek baiza nie, because I belong to the green army,” he said, referring to his Patriotic Alliance party.

McKenzie says he is “paying the price with a smile,” insisting that the campaign against him is an attempt to brand him as a racist for standing up to the podcasters.

Context and precedent

This controversy comes on the heels of other high-profile political racism cases. Former DA MP Renaldo Gouws lost his parliamentary seat after his party terminated his membership over a series of videos in which he attacked Black people and used the K-word. Gouws eventually reached a settlement with the SAHRC that included a public apology.

For now, all eyes are on the SAHRC’s upcoming meeting, which will determine whether formal proceedings will follow.

Also read: Gayton McKenzie Hits Back at Racism Allegations, Calls Out ‘Political Smear Campaign’

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Source: IOL

Featured Image: News24