Sports minister Gayton McKenzie has apologised for what he called “insensitive” remarks in the past, following the resurfacing of several posts he made on X (formerly Twitter) between 2013 and 2017 in which he used the K-word multiple times.
The old posts, which contained racial slurs, have sparked widespread outrage.
Responding on X, McKenzie said he is “the son of a black woman” and has “fought my whole life for the same treatment between black and coloured people because we fought the same struggle.”
This comes after his recent public comments demanding accountability and punishment for the controversial Open Chats Podcast episode against the coloured community.
In his statement, McKenzie denied being racist and said his past comments that were made in ignorance.
“I can never be guilty of racism, try some other take down but never racism. 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,” he posted.
I’m the son of a black woman, I have children with a black woman, i fought my whole life for same treatment between black and coloured ppl because we fought same struggle. Frame 1, I call out racism, frame 2, I generally always included myself when speaking about black issues. pic.twitter.com/2sM1tiftbg
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) August 11, 2025
“Frame 1, I call out racism. Frame 2, I generally always included myself when speaking about black issues,” he wrote, sharing screenshots of previous posts.
In frame 1, is a screenshot of a previous X post stating: “Bullshit "@shakier_W: when we coloureds say k****r, its the same as when we call other coloureds Bushy's or indians K**i. Purely descriptive.” In frame 2, he said: “I love jews, Muslims an[d] Nigerians cos you f*cks with them they f*cks right back. We blacks are so use[d] to be insulted.”
I can never be guilty of racism, try some other take down but never racism. I did tweet some insensitive, stupid and hurtful things a decade or two ago, I was a troll & stupid. I cringe when seeing them and I am truly sorry for that. I shall subject myself to the investigation.
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) August 11, 2025
Attempts by Sowetan to reach McKenzie and his office for further comment were unsuccessful.
His old tweets have prompted ActionSA and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) to call for an investigation by the South African Human Rights Commission. Both parties have also urged parliament and the joint committee to remove him from his ministerial post.
McKenzie further argued that coloured South Africans face marginalisation.
“Coloured ppl don’t enjoy the same privileges as Black ppl in South Africa, although we fought the same struggle. This is and has always been my fight. Coloured people are screaming out for help but no one is hearing them,” he said.
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