Gayton McKenzie K-Word Scandal Puts South Africa’s Sports Ministry Under Fire

Background to the scandal

In early August 2025, a batch of screenshots from several years ago began circulating on Twitter, Facebook and local forums. The images captured Gayton McKenzie, leader of the Patriotic Alliance and the newly appointed Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, typing the infamous K‑word in a series of posts. The term, a relic of apartheid‑era hate speech, is still legally classified as a criminal offense when used to insult or degrade black South Africans.

McKenzie's tweets were not isolated jokes; they appeared across multiple accounts and referenced a range of political topics. In each case, he attached a comment that the slur was being used to "highlight the absurdity of racism" or to "call out bigotry". When asked why a black politician would employ such a loaded word, he responded that he could not be racist because of his own skin colour, a stance that quickly drew fire from activists and scholars alike.

After the screenshots went viral, the minister issued a public apology. He described his past remarks as "insensitive, stupid, and hurtful" and pledged to avoid any language that could be interpreted as hateful. Critics, however, noted that his apology was couched in a defensive tone that reminded many of his notoriously brash public persona.

Political fallout and next steps

The backlash was swift. Leaders from across the opposition spectrum – the Democratic Alliance (DA), ActionSA, the African Transformation Movement (ATM) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) – all demanded McKenzie's immediate removal. DA leader John Steenhuisen warned that tolerating such rhetoric would undermine South Africa’s ongoing reconciliation efforts, while EFF spokesperson Naledi Chirwa called the minister’s conduct "a betrayal of the very people he claims to represent".

ActionSA took the matter a step further by filing a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). Party MP Alan Beasley argued that a minister who deals with culture and sport should set a higher standard of respect and inclusivity. The SAHRC announced that it would launch an investigation, reviewing both the tweets and the minister’s recent actions for possible breaches of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act.

The timing of the scandal added another layer of complexity. Just weeks earlier, McKenzie had spearheaded a campaign against the hosts of the Open Chats Podcast for their own derogatory remarks about the Coloured community. He succeeded in having the episode removed from MultiChoice’s DStv platform and filed criminal charges against the broadcasters. Opponents seized on this apparent double standard, dubbing McKenzie “the watchdog who can’t see his own teeth”.

Political analysts suggest that while the K-word controversy could force McKenzie out of the cabinet, his position within the Patriotic Alliance might remain intact. The party, still relatively new on the national stage, relies heavily on his personal brand and fundraising clout. Some insiders say that internal party mechanisms could protect him, at least until the SAHRC’s findings are released.

• Democratic Alliance – calls for resignation, cites constitutional values.
• ActionSA – lodged formal SAHRC complaint, demands minister step down.
• African Transformation Movement – urged President to fire McKenzie.
• Economic Freedom Fighters – labelled the incident a "racial betrayal".

Beyond the immediate political drama, the episode has reignited a broader conversation about the durability of apartheid‑era language in modern South Africa. Scholars note that while some black South Africans have reclaimed certain slurs in private settings, public officials are expected to model unity and refrain from language that reopens historic wounds. The case also raises questions about the efficacy of existing hate‑speech legislation when applied to a black politician using a term traditionally wielded by white supremacists.

As the SAHRC moves forward with its inquiry, civil society groups are preparing parallel campaigns. Organizations such as the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Equal Rights Trust have issued statements urging swift accountability and calling for a national dialogue on the limits of free speech versus hate speech. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture’s communications team has been largely silent, issuing only a brief note that an internal review is underway.

Public opinion appears divided. A recent poll by Ipsos showed that 42% of respondents think McKenzie should resign, 35% believe he deserves a chance to apologize and improve, and the rest were undecided. Younger voters, especially those active on social media, tend to side with the resignation camp, citing the need for leaders to embody the post‑apartheid ethos of respect and inclusivity.