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IOL News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Gayton McKenzie faces backlash from Ahmed Kathrada Foundation over 'threats to civil society'
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation slammed Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, for threatening to shut down civil society organisations. Image: BackpagePix The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation (AKF) has slammed Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, for threatening to shut down it and other civil society organisations. McKenzie made these remarks in a recent interview with the Paris-based English-language quarterly magazine, Africa Report, where he was speaking about the Afrikaner's resettling in the United States, xenophobia and his 2029 leadership vision. McKenzie recently sparked controversy by calling for the dismissal of foreign nationals working in departments under his authority, with many including the AKF and other prominent civil society organisations, criticising him for being xenophobic. During the interview, McKenzie told Africa Report that he would get rid of illegal foreigners and he would close down charities that are anti-government, adding that the country needs patriotic charities. When asked if that included AKF, McKenzie said the foundation is a disgrace to the memory of the anti-apartheid activist, adding that he had never heard them speaking about the poorest of the poor not having jobs. The foundation said these comments are a direct attack on the values of the country's democracy, the rule of law, and the rights of civil society organisations to operate freely in South Africa. 'Minister McKenzie's contempt for our Constitution and the rule of law is serial and sinister. His most recent threats follow the equally dangerous and unlawful directive he issued earlier in May, instructing the dismissal of all foreign nationals employed in entities within his department, under the threat of firing the CEOs of those entities. "These actions were, and remain, entirely without legal foundation and constitute a clear violation of both South Africa's Constitution and its labour laws,' said the foundation. 'It is not just the threat to shut down the AKF that we resist, but the broader pattern of Minister McKenzie's abuse of power. He tells us without shame and repeatedly that a government in which he holds office is one in which his personal whims should hold sway rather than the democratic principles he is sworn to defend,' the foundation said, adding that his actions are not just unlawful, they are dangerous to the social cohesion, stability, and growth of our country. The foundation accused McKenzie of seeking to justify his illegal actions under the guise of advocating for the poor. "A Minister who abuses his power and disregards the Constitution cannot credibly claim to be serious about addressing the very real and grave issues of unemployment, poverty, and inequality in our country. A Minister who actively seeks to alienate the residents of those markets in which our goods, services and industry must find uptake is not a Minister serious about creating jobs or economic growth.' The foundation said the real threats to South Africa's future are not the civil society organisations that speak out against harmful, fact-free policies. Nor are they from those foreign nationals lawfully present in South Africa. It said the true threats are those who, like Minister McKenzie, actively undermine the rule of law, sow divisions and pursue populist agendas at the cost of the common good. 'We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Cabinet, and all responsible authorities to distance themselves from Minister McKenzie's harmful rhetoric and actions. His threats to close organisations like the AKF- whose record speaks for itself and which exists to uphold the values of justice, equality, and democracy- must be rejected in the strongest terms," the foundation said. McKenzie spokesperson, Stacy-Lee Khojane, said the Minister had attended the Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday and was not available to respond. However, shortly after the release of the AKF statement on Friday, McKenzie reaffirmed his stance, saying illegal foreigners in South Africa are protected by very powerful foundations, the media and law societies. 'Once you touch this subject, you will be attacked on all fronts,' he said. [email protected]
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Gayton McKenzie slammed for anti-foreigner rhetoric
McKenzie has been accused of stoking xenophobia after reportedly demanding the removal of foreign nationals working in government roles. Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has come under fire for allegedly instructing his department's managers to 'get rid of the foreign nationals'. McKenzie reportedly said this a few days ago during a stakeholder meeting. He was quoted as saying: 'I want them out… Get them out before I get you out.' Politicians 'need proper training' Political analyst Prof Ntsikelelo Breakfast said: 'Politicians holding positions in the GNU need proper training so they know how to represent the government in a reputable way. These ministers when they speak, you will not understand whether they are doing so on behalf of the government or representing their political parties.' 'There are things that a leader representing the government should not say in public. Just like McKenzie, he is out of line because he has a tendency to do exactly what I am talking about.' Respecting human rights He added: 'His recent utterances about immigrants working for the government were totally uncalled for as his job as a minister is to unify people and to respect the human rights of everyone not to cause division. 'Surely it is not the position of the government to tell foreigners employed by the government to go.' ALSO READ: McKenzie demands answers on the employment of foreign nationals on Robben Island Breakfast was adamant ministers had not been trained properly on how to behave in public and to communicate the government message in a reputable way. He said the message conveyed by politicians must not be confusing as it should be clearly stated that they speak on behalf of the government or represent their political parties. Politicians' words cause division Local politicians have been previously accused of making utterances that cause division between South Africans and foreign nationals. International reputation expert Tshepo Matseba swaid politicians needed, 'to be properly trained before taking office as public servant.' The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and other civil society groups demanded that McKenzie apologize to the immigrants working for the government for uttering 'xenophobic remarks'. NOW READ: WATCH: Birdie bliss! Gayton McKenzie's hilarious golf debut goes viral
Daily Maverick
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Minister McKenzie, your directives are morally repugnant and devoid of legal authority
Fifteen of South Africa's most prominent civil society organisations, including the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Defend Our Democracy, SECTION27 and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, have slammed Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie's xenophobic comments. This is their statement: We, the undersigned civil society organisations, write to express our deep concern and strong condemnation of the recent public statements and directives issued by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie. Speaking at a recent signing of stakeholder compacts with public entities falling within the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC), the minister said of foreign nationals employed by these entities, 'I want them out… Get them out before I get you out.' He demanded of those in attendance: 'If you are [hiring] foreigners… I expect the CEOs, the board chairpersons, and the whole board to take action within two weeks after receiving my letter tomorrow.' The instruction follows a directive he issued on 28 April 2025 mandating an immediate audit of all foreign nationals employed across DSAC entities. Letters have been issued to these entities, following the finalisation of that audit, which require further particulars of employees and the processes followed prior to their employment. Minister McKenzie's actions are morally repugnant and entirely devoid of legal authority. His demand of CEOs that they immediately dismiss foreign employees or face dismissal themselves constitutes an egregious violation of South Africa's constitutional law, its labour laws and its international treaty obligations. South Africa's Constitution enshrines the rights of everyone — including foreign nationals — to fair labour practices. The minister's remarks and instructions undermine these rights and amount to unlawful discrimination based on nationality, which is expressly prohibited under both domestic and international law. Moreover, the threat to summarily dismiss public entity CEOs for failure to carry out illegal instructions constitutes a gross abuse of ministerial power. The Public Finance Management Act and basic tenets of administrative justice do not grant ministers the authority to compel unconstitutional conduct or to bypass lawful grievance and employment processes. Yet not only does the minister appear entirely ignorant of the basic tenets of the constitutional dispensation under which he serves, he appears to be financially irresponsible as to the resources and funds which the DSAC is required to steward. Should institutions act on the minister's directives, they will almost certainly face multiple legal challenges. These actions would inevitably result in costly litigation and damages to be funded by the public purse. Minister McKenzie, in his capacity as a steward of public resources and constitutional values, has a duty to act lawfully, rationally, and in good faith. His directive shows him to be entirely unappreciative of this duty. His remarks are clearly intended to inflame a dangerous and growing xenophobic sentiment in South Africa. It seems unthinkable that the South African executive would accommodate within its ranks such odious hate-mongering, even as our President visits the United States and rightly calls out the deliberate disinformation being promulgated about South Africa and the incentivising of hate and division, and again rightly insists on the value, dignity and equality of Palestinian lives. Those postures can in no way be reconciled with inclusion within the executive of a minister who actively cultivates cruelty and harm to foreign nationals within our borders, many of whom are lawfully employed and contribute to our communities and country. Finally, Minister McKenzie's directive reflects a profound misunderstanding of the very portfolio he has been entrusted to lead. Arts and culture thrive not in isolation, but through dialogue, exchange and the free movement of people and ideas. The global nature of artistic and cultural expression is not a threat to national identity — it is a cornerstone of its evolution and relevance in the 21st century. South Africa's own cultural richness has long been deepened through engagement with international practitioners, historians, educators, performers and scholars. Whether through musical collaborations, museum exchanges, academic residencies, or heritage preservation, the inclusion of foreign nationals has strengthened South African institutions, enriched public understanding and elevated the global visibility of our own cultural output. To treat the presence of foreign nationals in the arts and culture space as a problem to be purged is to desecrate that space. It is not only legally untenable — it is intellectually impoverished, culturally regressive and diplomatically self-sabotaging. In light of the minister's failure to appreciate the obligations of our country's Constitution, its laws, the limits of his authority, the financial stewardship he is required to observe, the demands of the portfolio he has been entrusted, we call for : An immediate public retraction of the unconstitutional directive and associated threats; A formal apology to the individuals and institutions targeted by the minister's comments; Clear guidance from the Presidency and Cabinet affirming that all employment in the public sector must comply with South Africa's labour laws and constitutional principles, regardless of nationality; and A commitment from the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture to uphold fair employment practices, grounded in our Constitution and our laws. DM
