McKenzie faces SAHRC probe over old tweets

MINISTER of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who recently dismissed claims of being a racist, has been given until Wednesday to respond to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which is investigating his "racially-divisive" social media posts from over a decade ago.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE

Last week Friday, in a statement, the commission said it has found prima facie evidence that McKenzie's tweets violate the country's equality laws. This comes as McKenzie recently faced a public backlash after some of the posts he made on X, formerly known as Twitter, between 2011 and 2017 resurfaced, sparking a social media frenzy.

Last week, ActionSA confirmed it had reported McKenzie to the South African Human Rights Commission for repeatedly using hateful Apartheid-era slurs to degrade and dehumanise black South Africans.

The SAHRC said it has opened an investigation into the minister's posts following an outcry and complaints from members of the public.