Gayton McKenzie at centre of political storm over his past utterances
From complaints lodged with Parliament and the SAHRC, to calling for him to lose his Cabinet job, his political opponents are now coming after the Patriotic Alliance leader, accusing him of stirring racial divisions.
FILE: Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie. Picture: @SportArtsCultur/X
CAPE TOWN - Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has found himself at the centre of a political storm since announcing he plans to sue podcasters who made derogatory statements about coloured people.
Instead, it’s McKenzie who’s facing backlash, with his past utterances being dug up on social media.
From complaints lodged with Parliament and the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), to calling for him to lose his Cabinet job, his political opponents are now coming after the Patriotic Alliance leader, accusing him of stirring racial divisions.
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While initially agreeing with McKenzie that the Open Chats podcasters should face repercussions for insulting the coloured community, political parties are now turning the tables on him.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) said it had written to Parliament’s ethics committee to investigate McKenzie’s past use of racial slurs in his social media posts.
ATM parliamentary leader, Vuyo Zungula, said that McKenzie’s use of language towards black people was indefensible and corrosive.
He wants McKenzie to be investigated in terms of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the parliamentary code of conduct.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) thinks he should be axed from Cabinet, saying that his job requires him to promote unity and inclusion of the country’s diverse heritage.
Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson, Willie Aucamp, said there could be no double standards in the handling of this matter.
"When Gayton McKenzie, the leader of the Patriotic Alliance uses the K-word and fuels division with dangerous rhetoric, it is no different to any other hate speech, and it deserves the same consequences."
ActionSA said it had reported McKenzie to the SAHRC for his social media posts.