What started as a stand against racism has quickly spiraled into a heated debate about double standards. Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture—and the leader of the Patriotic Alliance—is now under fire for allegedly applying selective outrage.
McKenzie Slams Popular Podcast After Racial Remarks
The controversy centers around the Open Chats Podcast, hosted by Mthokozisi Donald and Sino Kama, along with two female guests.
The show came under scrutiny after airing comments that many felt reinforced harmful stereotypes about coloured people.
After public backlash, DStv decided to drop the podcast from its lineup. And McKenzie wasted no time weighing in.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he applauded the cancellation and stressed the importance of accountability.
“Consequence Is a Great Teacher,” Says Gayton
In his post, McKenzie made it clear he wasn’t out to ruin young people’s lives—but he did want them to understand the gravity of what they said.
“No one wants to see young people destroyed,” he wrote.
“But it’s a teachable moment for them and their peers… letting them go on like nothing happened is the surest way to destroy them.”
He concluded: “Consequence is a great teacher.”
Legal Threats and Official Action
McKenzie had also gone live on Facebook the day before the show was pulled.
In a strongly worded statement, he threatened legal action against the podcast and its broadcaster, criticizing those in charge of content oversight.
“Whoever is in charge of content control didn’t see something wrong,” he said.
“You have seven days to cancel that show… you’re going to learn. This is where we draw the line.”
Following that, senior Patriotic Alliance member Liam Jacobs officially opened a case of hate speech and crimen injuria against the podcast hosts.
Accusations of Hypocrisy Flood Social Media
But the story didn’t end there. McKenzie’s comments sparked a wave of criticism online, with many accusing him of being a hypocrite.
The trending sentiment: he’s picking and choosing when racism is worth calling out.
Some social media users pointed out his past defense of former DA MP Renaldo Gouws, whose old videos using the K-word had resurfaced.
At the time, McKenzie urged people not to “cancel” Gouws, sparking confusion over his stance now.
Past Statements Come Back to Haunt Him
Digging deeper, others began unearthing old clips of McKenzie himself making racially charged remarks about black South Africans.
Those clips have since reignited conversations around whether he should be the one leading the charge on racism.
Critics also didn’t shy away from bringing up his criminal past, reminding fellow citizens that McKenzie is a convicted criminal—adding another layer of complexity to the current debate.
Mixed Reactions Across South Africa
The situation has clearly divided opinion. While some support McKenzie’s decision to speak out against the podcast, others feel he’s lost credibility by appearing inconsistent on similar issues.
Either way, the entire debacle has reignited conversations about accountability, cancel culture, and the standards we hold public figures to—especially when it comes to sensitive matters like race and representation.