McKenzie to be probed over K-word

The sport, arts and culture minister insists he has never used the racial slur against black people

- Mandisa Nyathi

Patriotic Alliance (PA) president Gayton McKenzie has strongly rejected preliminary findings by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) that he engaged in “hate speech” in a series of social media posts dating back nearly 15 years.

In a strongly worded statement released on Thursday, McKenzie criticised the commission for allegedly failing to follow the principle of “audi alteram partem”, the legal standard that requires hearing both sides before making a judgment.

McKenzie said he only became aware of the SAHRC complaint after a letter meant for him was reportedly found in an administrative assistant’s inbox at the department of sport, arts and culture.

McKenzie alleged political motivations behind the SAHRC’s decision to go public. “The SAHRC has allowed itself to be politicised, and to become a political player promoting an anti-Gayton McKenzie smear campaign,” McKenzie said.

The commission received complaints from political parties and members of the public after the posts, published from 2011 to 2017, circulated on X earlier this month.