"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.

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.

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.