Pressure rises for Gayton McKenzie’s removal over racism allegations

Patriotic Alliance Leader and Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie, under-fire as citizens calls for his removal from ministerial position

By Mathipa Phishego

Calls are intensifying for the removal of Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, following the resurfacing of social media posts allegedly containing racist remarks directed at black people. The posts, reportedly made more than a decade ago, have reignited public debate over accountability and ethical leadership in government.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has publicly urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to act decisively, calling McKenzie’s alleged remarks unacceptable and incompatible with his position in public office.

ActionSA has gone further, formally lodging a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The party’s spokesperson, Matthew George, stressed that McKenzie must face consequences for his words, regardless of when they were made.

“These kinds of statements cannot be overlooked simply because of the time that has passed. As a leader, he must be held to the highest standard, and that includes being accountable for the views he has expressed,” George said.

McKenzie, a former businessman and politician with a reputation for outspoken commentary, has defended himself, claiming that the tweets were generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in response to the allegations. Like a “Cocomelon,” he also apologized for the old series of racist posts, which included the banned “K” word.

Opposition parties including the EFF, ActionSA, Democratic Alliance (DA), African Transformation Movement (ATM), and Network Citizens (Netizens) stressed that an apology is not enough for racial slurs. They are demanding his removal from his ministerial position.

The Presidency has not confirmed whether any action will be taken against McKenzie. However, with public pressure mounting and opposition parties sharpening their criticism, the matter is expected to dominate political discourse in the coming weeks.

With complainants awaiting the SAHRC’s review, the possibility of the matter being referred to the Equality Court also remains on the table.