Gayton McKenzie to Engage With SAHRC Over Controversial Social Media Posts, SA Weighs In on Decision
- Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie will meet with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)
- The Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture is in hot water over social media posts he made over a decade ago
- South Africans weighed in on McKenzie's situation as the minister seeks to clarify issues raised against him
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Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG – Gayton McKenzie intends to meet with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over old social media posts where he used the K-word.
The Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture was given until Wednesday, 20 August 2025, to respond to the SAHRC regarding the offensive posts.
The posts, some dating as far back as 2011, resurfaced after the Patriotic Alliance took legal action against the hosts of the Open Chats podcast for comments made about the Coloured community.
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McKenzie to engage with SAHRC
With the SAHRC confirming that it launched an investigation into his previous comments, the PA leader is prepared to meet with the commission. PA spokesperson Steve Motale confirmed to The Citizen that the minister would be engaging with the SAHRC, stating that McKenzie was not the author of some of the offensive tweets.
“We intend to take the SAHRC up on their offer of a meeting because there are numerous issues that we need to clarify to them, such as the fact that he was not even the author of many of the offensive tweets, which can easily be proven,” Motale said.
He stated that once these points were clarified, they would have a clearer picture of the way forward.
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What do you need to know about the McKenzie saga?
- McKenzie apologised for the tweets that have resurfaced from over a decade ago, but South Africans were not having it.
- South Africans roasted the minister after he said his controversial tweets were taken out of context.
- Numerous parties and individuals have called for McKenzie to be removed from his ministerial post.
- McKenzie issued a defiant statement when he said that people don’t know what’s coming if he’s removed.
- PA Deputy President Kenny Kunene has defended party leader Gayton McKenzie amid the controversy of his past tweets.
- ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba bashed McKenzie’s apology for the tweets, describing it as unacceptable.
South Africans weigh in on McKenzie’s situation
Social media users weighed in on McKenzie’s situation, sharing mixed reactions to his decision to meet with the SAHRC.
Tumi Kgothatso said:
“End of the road for Kenzy.”
Thobani Ncuthu Tyobela agreed:
“It might be the end of the road for him.”
Malome Kagiso noted:
“He’s got no choice. If they say come, he’s got to go🤣.”
Buhle Radebe suggested:
“He must do the honourable thing and simply resign.”
Chris Brits claimed:
“He wants to bribe them.”
uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party calls for an investigation
Briefly News also reported that the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party called for an investigation into McKenzie's alleged criminal ties.
The party made the calls following the resurfacing of tweets that the Patriotic Alliance leader made over a decade ago.
The MK Party also stated that the minister's behaviour is not new to members of the Government of National Unity.
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