logo
McKenzie says he won't apologise for 'racist' posts even if Ramaphosa asks

McKenzie says he won't apologise for 'racist' posts even if Ramaphosa asks

TimesLIVEa day ago
Sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie has changed his tune and says he won't apologise for allegations of racism after old tweets using the K-word to refer to black people resurfaced.
Political parties including the EFF, DA and ATM have called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove him as minister and demanded that he apologise.
McKenzie previously apologised on his X, but speaking to eNCA on Tuesday, he said he would not apologise for something he hasn't done, even if Ramaphosa asks him.
'I can't ask for forgiveness for something I didn't do. Why am I asking for forgiveness for some of the nonsense things I said about guys and swearing at some guys, not racism. I won't apologise,' he said.
'Why would I apologise for something I didn't do? Even if the president says I must apologise for racism, I will not, because I wasn't racist. Must I be so desperate for a job that I start apologising for stuff? No. I'm another type of guy.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ramaphosa calls for water to be at the fore of infrastructure investment
Ramaphosa calls for water to be at the fore of infrastructure investment

Eyewitness News

time2 hours ago

  • Eyewitness News

Ramaphosa calls for water to be at the fore of infrastructure investment

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa said that water should not be relegated to the background and should be at the forefront when it comes to infrastructure investment. He said that the provision of water should be placed at the highest level of the political agenda on the continent and has called on investors to put money in developing water infrastructure. Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the opening of the African Union-AIP Water Investment Summit in Cape Town on Wednesday. The president said that one of the summit's aims is to bring Africa and international partners together and has called on investors to heed the call to invest in water. Ramaphosa said that water investment must no longer be an afterthought when countries come together to discuss issues like climate and finance. "Quite often, when investments take place, water is always relegated to the back. We are now bringing water, an essential process that sustains our lives, to the fore to make sure that water is clearly put on the investment agenda." Ramaphosa said the launch of the global outlook council on water investments would see the Africa water investment programme scaled up into a global water investment platform. Ramaphosa also called on governments and investors to build a world where water was recognised as a human right.

Women continue to bear the brunt of lack of access to water in Africa: Ramaphosa
Women continue to bear the brunt of lack of access to water in Africa: Ramaphosa

Eyewitness News

time2 hours ago

  • Eyewitness News

Women continue to bear the brunt of lack of access to water in Africa: Ramaphosa

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed that women continue to bear the brunt of a lack of access to water on the continent and has called for greater investment to reverse the trend. He said it's high time water accessibility becomes a priority instead of being an afterthought when dealing with issues like climate and finance. Ramaphosa was addressing the opening of the African Union-AIP Water Investment Summit in Cape Town on Wednesday. He said one of the water summit's main goals is to endorse a declaration that commits to scaling up investment in water infrastructure. Ramaphosa told the summit that $30 billion is needed to close Africa's water investment gap and to ensure greater access to the critical natural resource. He said investments in water infrastructure should also ensure that women benefit from better access to water. 'I raise the issue of women advisedly because in the end, particularly on our continent, it is women who bear the brunt of lack of access to water, and we need to endow the women of our continent with dignity and respect and make sure they have access to good water.' Ramaphosa told delegates that the summit must also commit to scaling up investment, adding that 80 priority projects from 30 countries are currently in the pipeline.

‘We are truly sorry': Open Chats Podcast issues apology to coloured community after backlash
‘We are truly sorry': Open Chats Podcast issues apology to coloured community after backlash

The Citizen

time4 hours ago

  • The Citizen

‘We are truly sorry': Open Chats Podcast issues apology to coloured community after backlash

This is the second apology the Open Chats Podcast issued, after the first failed to calm the storm. The Open Chats Podcast team has released an apology to the coloured community and all South Africans after intense backlash over racist remarks made during episode 128. The controversy sparked national outrage, legal action and calls for cancellation. Now, the hosts are taking public steps toward accountability and education. Backlash over episode Episode 128 of the Open Chat Podcast ignited a firestorm. Remarks made about the coloured community were widely condemned as racist, sexist and deeply offensive. The clip quickly went viral, drawing outrage across social media. This prompted the Patriotic Alliance (PA) to file charges against the hosts. The controversy escalated when old tweets from PA leader and sports minister Gayton McKenzie were shared, showing him using the K-word. This sparked renewed debate and even calls for his resignation. The fallout spread far beyond the original podcast audience. It turned into a national talking point. ALSO READ: Zuma's former fiancée LaConco makes acting debut in Mzansi Magic's 'Genesis' Previous apology rejected The podcast's initial apology failed to calm the storm. Many South Africans viewed it as insincere, with TikTok users posting videos criticising the tone and delivery. The backlash only deepened calls for cancellation and heightened demands for genuine accountability. This week, in episode 131, the hosts released a new apology. They say it is 'serious, unreserved, and from the heart'. 'We take full accountability' 'We wish to unconditionally and unreservedly apologise for the hurt and harm we caused to the coloured community and South Africa at large. Our statements in episode 128 were racist, sexist, unfortunate, irresponsible, reckless, and unAfrican. We take full accountability for our utterances,' the Open Chats team said. The team acknowledged that their words had caused 'outrage and offence' across racial lines. They recognised that their right to freedom of expression could not be exercised in ways that stripped others of their dignity. Content removed and call for calm Episode 128 has since been removed from all official platforms. However, the hosts expressed regret that clips continue to circulate independently. They urged the public to stop sharing the content to prevent further harm. They have also committed to undergoing formal education on race relations at a reputable higher-learning institution, to ensure such incidents are not repeated. Working with the Human Rights Commission While the team had initially intended to approach the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on their own, several political parties had already taken that step. The podcast's legal team is now liaising with the SAHRC to reach a resolution. They said they will comply fully with any directives issued. In a direct appeal to political parties critical of the podcast, the hosts invited open dialogue. They suggested a recorded discussion could take place in the future. Plea for forgiveness Closing their statement, the Open Chats Podcast hosts expressed remorse. 'We are disappointed with ourselves and the blatant disregard we showed when talking about a vulnerable group of people. We remain remorseful and request the forgiveness of the coloured community of South Africa. We are truly sorry for the damage we've caused.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store