Gayton McKenzie slams SAHRC findings of ‘hate speech’ in decade old tweets

by Sergio Miller

Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has defended himself against the findings of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). He claims that the outcome suggesting that prima facie evidence shows he was guilty of hate speech was motivated by a political agenda. 

The Patriotic Alliance leader has become the subject of much criticism in recent weeks. This follows a series of decade-old Twitter posts that have resurfaced in which the minister was seen making use of the “K” word in reference to his black countrymen. 

This has since led to the lodging of a complaint against the minister at the SAHRC, and their verdict on the incident later stated that the minister was guilty of hate speech. 

In a recent statement, a frustrated Gayton maintained his innocence, claiming that the outcome was politically motivated. 

He furthermore criticised their decision to go public with the next steps that would be taken without doing a proper investigation and consulting him. 

“Instead, they released preliminary findings, even suggesting what the penalties could or should be.” 

“The SAHRC, in this way, made itself the prosecutor, the judge, the jury, the sentencer and the executioner – all in a single day’s work. What they did not do was make themselves an investigator because they have investigated nothing, questioned nothing, and cross-examined nothing,” he stated. 

He further questioned the integrity of the institution, claiming that the infamous 2019 “Kill the Boer” chant was deemed not to constitute hate speech, while he felt that it was a much bigger offense. 

He added that should this case go further, he would gladly defend himself against the organisation. 

FULL STATEMENT

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