Gayton McKenzie faces probe after backlash over K-word use
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie says he will cooperate with an investigation following mounting calls for his removal over his use of the K-word in a recent live video, as well as resurfaced offensive tweets from years ago.
Taking to X on Monday, McKenzie admitted to posting “insensitive, stupid and hurtful” comments in the past, but rejected accusations of racism.
“I can never be guilty of racism, try some other take down but never racism,” he wrote.
“I did tweet some insensitive, stupid and hurtful things a decade or two ago, I was a troll [and] stupid. I cringe when seeing them and I am truly sorry for that. I shall subject myself to the investigation.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters, ActionSA, and the African Transformation Movement have all urged authorities to probe the minister’s conduct.
The ATM has lodged a formal complaint with the Presidency, Parliament, and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests, describing the language in the resurfaced tweets as “racially derogatory” and “deeply corrosive to the principles upon which our democracy is built.”
McKenzie, who is also the president of the Patriotic Alliance, insisted his online remarks were born out of mischief rather than prejudice.
He pointed to his personal background, noting: “I’m the son of a black woman, I have children with a black woman, I fought my whole life for the same treatment between black and Coloured people because we fought the same struggle.”