South African minister probed over racial slurs on social media

Thursday 21 August 2025 - 14:30

By: Sahili Aya

South African minister probed over racial slurs on social media

South Africa’s Human Rights Commission has launched an investigation into Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie after old social media posts resurfaced showing him using a highly offensive racial slur. The case has reignited a national debate about racism, identity, and the legacy of apartheid.

McKenzie, a populist politician from the Coloured community, was ordered to issue an official apology, undergo sensitivity training, donate to a designated charity, and remove the posts from the platform X. At the time of the announcement, the posts, dating back to 2011–2017, were still online.

The controversy emerged after a podcast episode insulted Coloured people, sparking anger and prompting McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance party— which won 2% of the 2024 vote — to file complaints. However, McKenzie himself came under scrutiny when internet users uncovered his past posts using the “K-word,” a term outlawed in South Africa as one of the most offensive racial insults.

McKenzie later acknowledged his past behavior, calling himself a “troll” and expressing regret for his words. “I cringe when seeing them and I am truly sorry,” he wrote on X.

Experts argue the case reflects lingering divisions rooted in apartheid’s “divide and rule” policies, which categorized South Africans into racial groups. Tensions remain evident today, with Coloured communities — about 8% of the population — often caught in debates about racism and identity.