Patriotic Alliance leader and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie says he has nothing to apologise for.
“I will not apologise, because I’m not a racist,” he said.
McKenzie will not apologise even as criticism grows. He insists people took his words out of context. He says a proper reading shows he was responding to others and not directing slurs.
SAHRC Investigation and Legal Plan
The South African Human Rights Commission is probing old posts and recent remarks linked to McKenzie’s X account. The material includes racial slurs and alleged xenophobic language dating back more than a decade. McKenzie says he has briefed lawyers.
He plans to defend himself in the Equality Court if needed. He also signalled readiness to escalate the matter further. Throughout, McKenzie will not apologise, arguing the case should be tested in law, not in the court of public opinion.
What Triggered the Backlash
The dispute intensified after a live video in which McKenzie repeated a racial slur while discussing action against the “Open Chats” podcasters. They had made disparaging remarks about the Coloured community. Soon after, old tweets with apartheid-era language resurfaced.
The circulation of those posts inflamed tensions. McKenzie says he was confronting racism, not promoting it. He rejects allegations of hate speech and says his critics ignore the full context.
Politics, Pressure and Next Steps
Opposition figures called for consequences. McKenzie says he won’t resign. He says he will cooperate with the SAHRC process and file a formal response. He also expressed support for the national administration and vowed to keep working in his portfolio.
He challenged opponents to produce proof that his intent was racist. For now, McKenzie will not apologise and is preparing to argue his case in court. He says the legal route will separate fact from spin and protect free expression while condemning real racism.
