Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has come under criticism after revisiting the economic impact of Chris Brown’s 2024 South African concerts, with his comments reigniting a debate about the singer’s controversial history and gender-based violence (GBV).
Also see: Bonang Matheba calls out Gayton McKenzie over proposed Jay-Z concert export
Chris performed at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium in December 2024, despite a campaign by women’s rights organisation Women For Change to have the concerts cancelled.
Gayton McKenzie highlights jobs created by Chris Brown concert
Gayton recently defended the value of bringing major international artists to South Africa, pointing to the employment opportunities created around Chris’s concerts.
In a statement shared on social media, the minister said:
“The Chris Brown concert created the biggest job opportunities for young people in SA who were considered to be unemployable. It was the first time some received a salary. My job as Minister is always to make things easy for our promoters to bring big-name artists to SA.”
Gayton’s comments have sparked renewed discussion about whether the economic benefits of major concerts should be weighed against concerns surrounding the artists performing in the country.
The Chris Brown concert created the biggest job opportunities 4 young people in SA who were considered 2 be unemployable. It was the first time some received a salary. My job as Minister is always to make things easy for our promoters to bring Big Name Artist to SA.
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) September 15, 2026
Women For Change tried to stop Brown from performing
Women For Change launched a petition calling for Chris’s performances to be stopped, citing his history of violence against women and South Africa’s ongoing GBV crisis. The organisation’s petition specifically called for Brown to be prevented from performing in the country.
By November 2024, Women For Change had collected more than 51,000 signatures and submitted its petition to the relevant government departments, calling for Chris’s visa to be denied.
The campaign placed Chris’s concerts at the centre of a wider debate about accountability, GBV and whether artists with controversial histories should be celebrated in South Africa.
The American artist has a long, documented history of criminal convictions, arrests, and civil lawsuits involving physical violence and abuse, the most notable incident involving his ex-girlfriend, multi-award-winning singer Rihanna.
Chris Brown’s concerts went ahead
Despite the campaign, Chris performed at FNB Stadium on 14 and 15 December 2024.
The concerts were hugely successful commercially, attracting a reported combined audience of almost 190,000 people. The events were also praised by Johannesburg officials for their economic contribution, including benefits for tourism, local businesses and employment.
This economic argument is now central to Gayton’s latest comments, as he highlights the employment opportunities created for young South Africans.
Gayton McKenzie’s comments spark debate
While some may view the concerts through the lens of job creation and the economic benefits of international entertainment, others have questioned whether those benefits should outweigh concerns raised by GBV activists.
The debate is particularly sensitive in South Africa, where gender-based violence remains a major social issue.
Women For Change’s campaign demonstrated that opposition to Chris’s concerts was not simply about his music, but about what his presence and promotion could represent in a country where activists continue to call for stronger action against violence towards women.
Gayton, meanwhile, has continued to emphasise the role of his department in facilitating major entertainment events and attracting international artists to South Africa.
His latest comments have therefore reopened the Chris debate nearly two years after the concerts took place, with the focus once again shifting between economic opportunity, entertainment and accountability.
Also see: Chris Brown officially touches down in South Africa
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