The African Transformation Movement (ATM) formally lodged a complaint against Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, alleging racist remarks aimed at black South Africans and calling for an urgent investigation and his removal.

The complaint, submitted to the Presidency, Parliament, and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests, centers on tweets the ATM said contain “racist slurs” directed at the black community. 

McKenzie is embroiled in controversy regarding old social media posts dating back to 2011, shared on X (formerly Twitter) during his time as a businessman. The posts revealed the use of highly offensive racial slur towards blacks.

In one of his posts, he criticised the term ‘Black Diamond’ while using a racially charged term that many in South Africa consider reprehensible.

ATM parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula drafted the letter on Saturday. It frames the matter as a constitutional and ethical crisis rather than a political spat.

Zungula asserted that the tweets “contain racially derogatory slurs directed at black South Africans, language that is both indefensible and deeply corrosive to the principles upon which our democracy is built.”

He argued that the issue “is not a matter of political rivalry or petty offence. It is a matter of ethics, constitutional duty, and the moral fabric of the Republic.”

In the letter, Zungula further reminded readers of the country’s struggle with racial oppression and the purpose of national reconciliation efforts.

“(The) tweets employ language steeped in historical racism, the same kind of degrading rhetoric used to strip black people of their humanity during apartheid and colonial eras.”

Zungula also criticised McKenzie for what the letter describes as hypocrisy in response to remarks by younger podcasters, stating that ministers carry heavier responsibilities than private individuals.

Among the key passages cited by the ATM are calls for accountability and transparency. 

“Public trust is the currency of governance. When a Minister openly or historically expresses racial prejudice, without acknowledgment, remorse, or corrective action, that trust is irreparably damaged.” 

Mr President @CyrilRamaphosa, you appointed a Minister who has publicly uttered deeply offensive and despicable words against Black people.

Is this really the vision of unity and inclusivity that the GNU stands for? We demand action NOW! pic.twitter.com/jOkjq8Sjbl

— Vuyo Zungula MP 🇿🇦 (@ZungulaVuyo) August 8, 2025

The letter added that an “unrepentant Minister cannot credibly lead a department tasked with building cultural bridges and fostering unity.”

The complaint asks Parliament’s ethics bodies to determine whether the remarks breach the Constitution, the Executive Members’ Ethics Act, and the Parliamentary Code of Conduct, and to consider removing McKenzie from his ministerial post. It argues that his continued tenure undermines his office and Parliament.

The ATM also invoked several constitutional and statutory provisions, arguing that the Minister’s conduct violates principles of non-racialism, equality before the law, the dignity of all people, and the expectations of ethical public service. 

The party listed specific constitutional sections and ethics codes, including references to Sections 1(b), 9, 10, and 195(1)(e) and (i) of the Constitution, the Executive Members’ Ethics Act, and the Parliament’s Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests.

“Given the gravity of the matter, I request that the Presidency, Parliament, and the Ethics Committee initiate an immediate and thorough investigation into the Minister’s remarks, past and present; determine whether these remarks constitute a breach of the Constitution, the Executive Members’ Ethics Act, and the Parliamentary Code of Conduct; and recommend to the President the removal of Minister McKenzie from his position, as his continued tenure undermines the legitimacy of both his office and Parliament.”

Requests for comment from the office of Minister McKenzie were not immediately returned.

However, on Friday evening, he wrote on his X account saying that: ‘This whole campaign to find something racist I ever said is hilarious because you have now gone 13 years back and can’t bring out one racist thing I ever said. I always and still fight that Coloureds and Blacks are one people being treated differently mistakenly.’

Meanwhile, ActionSA has reported McKenzie to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for the racist remarks he made, which included the use of outdated and degrading slurs from the Apartheid era.

thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za

IOL Politics

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