Gayton McKenzie
Gayton McKenzie, the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture and leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), has stated that if President Cyril Ramaphosa asks him to resign, he will do so within five minutes, amid mounting pressure over resurfaced old tweets accused of containing racist remarks.
In a candid two-hour interview on the Konvo Podcast with host Penuel, McKenzie addressed a storm of controversy surrounding allegations of racism from his past social media posts. The minister, who has faced calls for his removal from parties such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), ActionSA and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), firmly denied being racist. He emphasised his diverse background, including a Sotho mother and mixed-race father, and highlighted actions from his life that he says prove his commitment to unity across racial lines. However, he made it clear that he would not step down unless directed by the president, whom he praised for giving him an opportunity no one else had.
The podcast episode, which delved into topics ranging from racial tensions in South Africa to McKenzie’s role in the Government of National Unity (GNU), came at a time when the minister is under intense scrutiny. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has received complaints about his old tweets, some dating back over a decade, which include slurs and comments that critics label as derogatory towards black people. ActionSA, for instance, lodged a formal complaint, arguing that such remarks undermine social cohesion. Despite this, McKenzie stood his ground, explaining that many of the tweets were taken out of context or were responses calling out racism rather than promoting it.
Defending Against Racism Allegations
McKenzie opened up about his past during the interview, reflecting on tweets that have resurfaced and sparked widespread backlash. One post from 2013 quoted Mahatma Gandhi using a derogatory term, which McKenzie clarified was not his own words but a direct citation to highlight historical racism. Another from 2011 responded to a fellow coloured person using slurs against black people, where McKenzie rebuked the statement, saying, “[__]”. He argued this was him condemning racism, not endorsing it.
“I quoted Gandhi, and I said I quote Gandhi. So the anger should be towards Gandhi,” McKenzie explained. He admitted some tweets were regrettable, born from a time when he was “an ass” and engaged in online trolling for attention. “I look back at some of my tweets. I’m like, yo, did I really say that? I was really nice. I was stupid. I’m embarrassed,” he said. However, he drew a line at apologising for racism he insists he never committed. “If the president says to me now I must apologise for those racist tweets, I will rather resign because I will never apologise for something I despise. I hate all racism.”
To counter the claims, McKenzie shared personal stories. He spoke of funding flights for two black children to study in America after hearing white sponsors doubted their families could afford it. He also recounted adjusting PA parliamentary lists to include more black and white representatives, ensuring diversity. “I removed a coloured lady to make space for a black lady. I removed another coloured to make space for a white person,” he said, stressing his belief in representation. His family background further humanises his stance: with an Irish grandmother, Japanese grandfather, Sotho mother and coloured father, he describes himself as “black and coloured,” fluent in Sotho and Afrikaans, and deeply connected to both cultures.
Critics, however, point to patterns in his old posts, including references to “tenderpreneurs” and “black diamonds” as veiled insults. McKenzie countered that these terms are racist when used to shame black success, noting how white wealth was built on state tenders without similar labels. “No white wealth was built in this country without tenders. All white wealth was built on state tenders,” he argued. He also highlighted internal racism within the coloured community, where terms like “boesman” or “koolie” are used derogatorily based on skin tone or hair texture, calling for self-reflection.
The Open Chats Podcast Spark
The racism allegations against McKenzie gained traction amid another controversy: his strong response to the Open Chats Podcast. In a viral clip from an episode that garnered 1.3 million views before being removed from YouTube on 8 August, hosts made offensive remarks about coloured people, calling them “crazy” and insinuating incestuous behaviour. The podcast issued an apology, acknowledging the hurt caused and stating their intention was not to disrespect the coloured community. However, McKenzie, whose PA draws significant support from coloured voters, labelled it hate speech and advocated for “consequence culture” rather than cancellation.
“I don’t believe in cancel culture. I believe in consequence culture,” McKenzie said, drawing from his prison experience where lack of early accountability led to severe outcomes. He revealed intervening to prevent vigilante actions against the hosts, saying, “People didn’t see the calls like ‘can somebody give us the address of those kids?’ I was the one that called those people and said no, don’t do that.” Instead, he suggested race sensitivity classes and restorative justice, ensuring no criminal record but accountability to prevent similar incidents.
The SAHRC has launched an investigation into the podcast, while DStv confirmed terminating their contract with Open Chats on 25 July, before the episode aired. McKenzie clarified the episode never appeared on DStv, correcting his initial video claim. The Democratic Alliance (DA) also plans to report the podcast to the SAHRC, condemning the “deeply offensive and race-baiting content.”
This incident opened broader discussions on coloured marginalisation. McKenzie painted a grim picture: “15 coloured boys die every day in South Africa… In 2016, nine coloured boys were shot dead every day. And you know what was the headline? Save the rhino.” He highlighted legislative biases favouring black Africans over coloureds in opportunities, despite shared struggles during apartheid. “Coloured people are the first nation of South Africa… We died like you died. We fought like you fought,” he said, naming figures like Basil February and Ashley Kriel.
He acknowledged historical privileges under apartheid, like better toilets and textbooks, but stressed coloured rejection of them in solidarity with black communities. Yet, post-1994, he argued, coloureds face exclusion: limited NSFAS funding, job opportunities and representation in police or clinics. “A coloured person can’t become African in South Africa,” he said, calling for President Ramaphosa to address the “national question” in upcoming dialogues.
Joining the GNU: Sellout or Strategic Move?
McKenzie faced criticism for the PA’s decision to join the GNU, with some voters feeling it was a sellout after his pre-election firebrand rhetoric against the African National Congress (ANC). Penuel shared his disappointment: “Many of us were disappointed because it almost felt like a sellout position.” McKenzie defended it as a chance to effect change from within. “I was called at 6:30 on the day of the announcements… President Ramaphosa asked me, ‘Would you like to join my government as a cabinet minister?’ I said yes.”
He argued external opposition limits impact, while inside, he can influence policies like deporting illegal foreigners (“abahambe”). “Don’t confuse my collegiality with messing with the constituency,” he said, citing recent PA gains in by-elections and removing underperforming councillors. Despite praising Ramaphosa’s consultative style and turning a R1 billion Zondo Commission cost into R11 billion recovered, McKenzie insisted he disagrees privately when needed.
Critics, including former supporters, regret voting PA, seeing his ANC alignment as softening his stance. McKenzie countered: “Watch my results and you’ll understand why I moved that way.” The PA, formed in 2013, has grown rapidly, winning wards from the DA and ANC, particularly in coloured areas like Mossel Bay and Drakenstein.
Crime, Sports and Arts Initiatives
McKenzie shared insights on crime, revealing 95% of guns killing people in the Western Cape are police-issued. “The factory of guns in this country is the police,” he said, calling for better border controls, searches at airports and a revived reward system for snitches. He criticised whistleblower dangers, advocating anonymous snitching to combat cartels from Nigeria, China and others infiltrating South Africa.
On sports, he updated on Video Assistant Referee (VAR) rollout in football, delayed by FIFA rules but funded with R80 million. He celebrated bringing LIV Golf to South Africa for the first time, with affordable tickets and free entry for children under 12. Formula 1 negotiations continue for 2027.
In arts, McKenzie addressed perceptions of sports bias: “We spend more money on our budget on arts and culture than on sports.” He launched 17 sector councils to help artists with contracts and commercialisation, aiming to prevent them dying poor despite talent. He cited icons like Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Black Coffee, pushing for platforms like TikTok to pay South African creators fairly.
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