Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has dismissed racism allegations against him, describing them as part of a well-coordinated smear campaign aimed at undermining his growing influence in South African politics. McKenzie, who is also the leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), said the resurfacing of social media posts he made more than a decade ago was nothing but a targeted political strategy driven by his opponents who feel threatened by his party’s rising popularity.
The controversy erupted after old posts attributed to McKenzie on X (formerly Twitter) went viral, prompting the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate whether his remarks violated the Equality Act. Despite the criticism, McKenzie has remained unapologetic, insisting that his words have been deliberately taken out of context to paint him as a racist.
In his defense, McKenzie highlighted what he described as a double standard in how racial issues are handled in the country. He questioned why the same level of outrage has not been directed at the Open Chats podcasters, who recently made derogatory remarks about coloured people. According to McKenzie, this selective outrage exposes the bias in how complaints are pursued.
Addressing his supporters on social media, McKenzie said, “It’s very obvious, people are intimidated by me. This is an operation. How do you go back 15 years? That means they can’t find something in my present.” He added that he will not issue an apology for comments made years ago, stressing that his opponents are determined to silence him because of the Patriotic Alliance’s growing influence in the political arena.
McKenzie also rejected accusations that he is holding onto his ministerial position at all costs. Some critics have argued that his refusal to resign despite mounting pressure shows he is desperate to remain in government. Responding to this, McKenzie was firm: “I don’t want them to think I’m going to say things in order to keep a job. No, not me. That’s not me. ‘Kill the boer, kill the farmer,’ that’s racism.”
The minister further threw his support behind South African mixed martial arts fighter Dricus du Plessis, who has also faced racism accusations in the past. McKenzie said both he and du Plessis have been unfairly targeted and falsely branded as racists simply because they express unpopular truths.
While the SAHRC has indicated that there is prima facie evidence that McKenzie may have violated the law, the minister remains confident that the allegations will not stand. For now, he has vowed to continue his political and ministerial duties without bowing to pressure or intimidation, framing the attacks as an attempt to derail his momentum and silence his voice in national debates.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the political storm surrounding McKenzie will impact his career or strengthen his narrative that he is being unfairly targeted by rivals who fear his growing political relevance.
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