South Africa Sports Minister McKenzie Apologises for Racist Posts as Opposition Demands Exit

South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has issued a public apology for social-media posts he made more than a decade ago that contained racist language. In a statement released on the platform X, McKenzie said he was “truly sorry” for the comments, which resurfaced over the weekend and sparked widespread condemnation. Opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters, the African Transformation Movement and ActionSA, dismissed the apology and called for McKenzie to be removed from both his Cabinet post and the leadership of the Patriotic Alliance. ActionSA said the remarks were incompatible with holding public office and underscored what it described as a pattern of intolerance. During a subsequent Facebook Live appearance, McKenzie denied being racist, noting that he is Black and has children with a Black woman. He did not indicate whether he would resign, and the presidency has yet to comment on the matter. The controversy comes less than three months after McKenzie was appointed to the Cabinet, adding pressure on the governing coalition as Parliament prepares to reconvene later this month.