Gayton McKenzie Faces Backlash After Meeting SHEIN Executives in Singapore

Minister’s Meeting Sparks Online Firestorm

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has come under heavy public criticism following his meeting with senior executives from SHEIN, the Chinese fast-fashion giant, during his official visit to Singapore.

The engagement, which took place on 6 October 2025 on the sidelines of South Africa Focus Week (SAFWS), was aimed at exploring potential collaborations between SHEIN and South Africa’s creative, fashion, and sports industries. According to the department’s statement, discussions focused on supporting inclusive sporting initiatives and empowering young South African designers and athletes.

Photos from the meeting — showing McKenzie alongside SHEIN representatives in front of the brand’s illuminated logo — quickly went viral, igniting a fierce online backlash.

Critics Accuse McKenzie of “Selling Out” Local Fashion

Social media users, fashion industry players, and commentators accused McKenzie of betraying the country’s struggling local textile and fashion sector, which has been undercut by cheap imports from online platforms like SHEIN and Temu.

SHEIN has been linked to the loss of more than 8,000 South African clothing and textile jobs in the past five years, as low-cost imports have flooded the market and weakened local manufacturing.

One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote:

“Oh yes, let’s partner with the very same company that contributed to the loss of 8,000 retail and manufacturing jobs in the past 5 years. Nice one, Gayton 👍🏾.”

Another post called the move “an act of treason on the creative scene,” while others labelled McKenzie “the literal enemy” of South African designers.

Prominent fashion commentators echoed the outrage. One account wrote:

“If Minister GaytonMcK and his department really cared about the LOCAL FASHION INDUSTRY, they would’ve done their research. Any endorsement of SHEIN is no good for local fashion.”

The criticism was amplified by radio host Sol Phenduka, who also voiced concerns about the implications of government officials engaging with fast-fashion corporations.

McKenzie Defends Move: “Collaboration, Not Capitulation”

Responding to the uproar, McKenzie took to X to defend the meeting, arguing that engaging with major global brands was a pragmatic step rather than an endorsement.

“We can’t stop SHEIN from doing business in SA,” McKenzie wrote. “We can agitate and negotiate for greater participation of the local fashion industry. We met them precisely for that reason.”

He added that emotional opposition would not yield results:

“You guys think staying angry at companies is a solution? There is value in collaboration.”

McKenzie further argued that South Africa needs all possible support to grow its creative economy, and that the government continues to collect taxes from such firms regardless of public sentiment.

Balancing Global Partnerships with Local Protection

While McKenzie’s outreach aligns with efforts to expand South Africa’s global creative footprint, critics say partnerships with fast-fashion brands risk deepening the country’s economic dependence on foreign imports.

Economists have long warned that SHEIN’s business model, built on ultra-fast turnaround times and low-cost overseas production, poses a threat to domestic manufacturing jobs.

The debate highlights the growing tension between economic diplomacy and local industry protection — a recurring theme as South Africa seeks to balance global partnerships with the sustainability of its homegrown creative ecosystem.

As South Africa Focus Week in Singapore continues, the controversy underscores a broader question: can the nation court international investment without compromising its local industries?