How Gayton McKenzie Shot Himself in the Foot and Turned a Win Into a Political Own Goal

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie’s public takedown of the Open Chats Podcast over their inflammatory comments about the coloured community was supposed to be a slam-dunk moment. The podcast hosts had made deeply offensive remarks, claiming coloured people practice incest and are “mentally deranged.” Outrage was widespread, and McKenzie alongside his Patriotic Alliance — took decisive action, including laying a crimen injuria complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission.

The public was largely on his side. Even the podcasters issued two public apologies. In that moment, McKenzie had a choice: accept the apology and position himself as a leader who can condemn prejudice while also embracing reconciliation, or keep the fire burning.

He chose the latter.

Campaign Calculus — and Misfire

Instead of pivoting to unity, McKenzie doubled down, using the incident to rally and appeal further to the coloured community a move many saw as political posturing ahead of upcoming campaigns. The strategy might have kept the issue alive in sympathetic circles, but it also left him exposed.

Enter the “social media receipts.” Old posts allegedly showing McKenzie using the K-word resurfaced, instantly reframing the story. The man leading the charge against racial slurs was now accused of using them himself. Critics pounced, accusing him of hypocrisy and demanding his resignation.

Political Firestorm Erupts

The EFF weighed in with a scathing press release titled:

“The EFF’s Statement Calling for the Immediate Removal of Gayton McKenzie as Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture for his History of Hateful, Racist Remarks”

“It is also the height of hypocrisy for McKenzie to demand accountability from others when he himself harbours the same hateful attitudes. Recently, when podcasters on Open Chats made offensive remarks about Coloured people calling them ‘incestuous’ and ‘crazy’ McKenzie expressed outrage, opened a case against them, and demanded a public apology. While he was right to be offended by prejudice directed at his community, this double standard strips him of any moral or ethical standing to lead on issues of non-racialism and social cohesion.”

Media personality Sizwe Dhlomo added fuel to the fire, bluntly tweeting:

“You guys can forgive him but this piece of sh!t @GaytonMcK can’t be our minister of Arts & Culture.”

Kenny Kunene’s Defence — and the Amplification Effect

Businessman and politician Kenny Kunene jumped to McKenzie’s defence, stressing his mixed heritage, diverse alliances during prison days, and personal character. But Kunene’s fiery post also kept the controversy in the spotlight, ensuring the backlash stayed alive on social media.

The Backfire

Had McKenzie accepted the podcasters’ apology and closed the matter, he could have walked away with a clean win, credited for both standing firm against prejudice and showing magnanimity. Instead, by keeping the issue alive to score political points, he created the perfect conditions for his own past to be dragged into the fray.

Now, instead of being remembered as the leader who humbled the podcast, he’s battling to prove he isn’t guilty of the very thing he condemned.

Endgame Approaching?

With pressure mounting from opposition parties, influential voices online, and the growing perception of hypocrisy, McKenzie’s position looks increasingly precarious. Insiders believe President Cyril Ramaphosa may soon be forced to act either by removing McKenzie from Cabinet or allowing him to resign gracefully to stem the political damage.

In politics, as in football, sometimes the smartest move isn’t to take another shot — it’s to know when to stop playing.