K-word tweets haunt Mckenzie
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
THE South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is expected to meet on Monday to consider a racism complaint against Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie over resurfaced tweets dating back more than a decade where he had apparently used the derogatory k-word.
The SAHRC complaint, filed by ActionSA, stems from McKenzie's social media posts some as old as 2011 containing the K-word to refer to black people.
'We must fight to protect the dignity of every South African and ensure that all, especially those serving as Cabinet Ministers, uphold the very essence of our constitutional dispensation, for which many sacrificed their lives,' said ActionSA MP, Alan Beesley.
If necessary, the party said it would also escalate the matter to the Equality Court.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) also filed a complaint with the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests saying that the language was divisive and 'undermines national cohesion'.
ATM leader Vuya Zungula accused McKenzie of 'hypocrisy' for defending the coloured community in relation to the remarks made about coloured people on the Open Chats podcast.
Zungula said the podcasters were not elected officials.
'They do not carry the constitutional and ethical obligations that a Minister must uphold at all times. The very language he has used in the past mirrors and arguably exceeds the harm of the podcasters' remarks,' he said.
The EFF called for McKenzie's removal from office and a public apology to all Black South Africans.
The SAHRC said they would be meeting on the issue on Monday and issue a response in due course.
McKenzie has denied the allegations, insisting he does not have 'a racist bone in his body' and claiming the backlash is politically motivated, following his public defense of the coloured community.
The controversy comes shortly after he instructed his party's legal team to take action against the Open Chats podcast in light of demeaning remarks they made about coloured people.
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