"Tweets Were Anti-Racist" – McKenzie

Patriotic Alliance leader and Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has responded to outrage over decade-old tweets containing racial slurs, including the k-word:

"I always tweeted as a black person – who was I racist against? My mother? My children?" he challenged critics during an interview.

Key defenses offered:

1. No Direct Targets: Claims he never directed slurs at individuals
2. "AI Fabrications": Suggests some tweets are artificially generated
3. Context Matters: Insults like "black diamond" were callouts of racism against colored people

"The courts of Gandhi will show I called out racism," McKenzie asserted.

READ: ActionSA Reports Sports Minister to Human Rights Commission Over Alleged Racist Tweets

Timing Questioned as "Political Campaign"

The minister framed the backlash as orchestrated:

• 15-Year Delay: "Why no outcry when originally posted?"
• Selective Outrage: Accuses critics of ignoring tweet contexts
• GNU Targeting: Implies coalition opponents drive the controversy

"This is politics – they had to dig 15 years back because they’ve got nothing current," he stated.

Willingness to Resign – On Ramaphosa’s Orders

McKenzie’s conditional stance on resignation:
✔ Loyalty to Ramaphosa: Would resign within 5 minutes if asked
✔ No GNU Criticism: Vows to praise president even if removed
✔ Job Focus: Emphasized current work ethic during interview

"I didn’t hire myself... but I’m here working," he noted, dismissing calls for resignation as distractions.

READ: "SA Still Has a Race Problem" - Diversity Expert Calls for McKenzie's Resignation Over Racist Remarks

Racial Terminology Debate

The minister contested exclusive black ownership of slurs:

• Colored Community Inclusion: Grew up hearing k-word used against colored people
• Semantic Argument: "Black diamond" tweet allegedly challenged racist hierarchies
• Evolving Language: Admits he wouldn’t tweet similarly today

"Africans wrongly claim these insults as exclusively theirs," McKenzie argued.