Gayton McKenzie has admonished a statement by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in which they labelled his old tweets, containing the racial slur of the K-word, as “hate speech”.
This comes after the Minister of Sport, Art and Culture claimed that he would not apologise to the public over his controversial comments.
GAYTON MCKENZIE SLAMS SAHRC
In a statement issued by the Patriotic Alliance, Gayton McKenzie strongly opposed the SAHRC’s statement, labelling his old tweets as “hate speech”.
The minister and political party leader accused the organisation of supporting a “political campaign against me, led by cowardly, anonymous accounts” and “playing to the gallery and trying me in the court of public opinion.
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He shared: “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 the investigator, because they have investigated nothing, questioned nothing, and cross-examined nothing.
“They have merely taken at face value what social media and rival politicians told them I did.
Without even attempting to speak to me, they were already convinced enough of my evident ‘hate speech’ to go public about it”.
Gayton implied that SAHRC had questionable standards.
He continued: “This is the same organisation that, in 2019, declared that the words ‘Kill the Boer’ do not constitute hate speech. However, they were quick to find hate speech in my tweets”.
Gayton denied that his tweets displayed intent to harm, incite harm, or promote hatred, as stipulated by the Equity Act. He then elaborated on a few of his tweets, which he claimed did not constitute racism.
HATE SPEECH
In the statement issued last week, the SAHRC revealed that it had formally opened an investigation into Gayton McKenzie’s old tweets after receiving several complaints from political parties and the public.
It found that the minister had violated the Equity Act and had sent a letter of allegations informing of such.
The commission pledged to navigate the way forward, which includes instituting proceedings at the Equality Court.
It stated: “The commission wishes to remind members of the public that the right ot freedom of expression is not absolute. Hate speech is prohibited in terms of the Equality Act and the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act.
“Given his position, Minister McKenzie’s conduct is expected to confirm ethical standards that is becoming of a minister and member of parliament.
“The commission calls on everyone in the country to uphold the principles enshrined in the Constitution, including human dignity, equality, and non-discrimination.”
DO YOU THINK GAYTON MCKENZIE’S TWEETS SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS HATE SPEECH?
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