Political analyst slams McKenzie for continued ‘reckless’ comments

Political analyst, Bongani Mahlangu, says Sport Minister, Gayton McKenzie, needs to be reminded that his days of playing to the gallery are over.

Mahlangu says McKenzie must remember that he is no longer just an opposition leader, but serves in government and, as a result, should refrain from making reckless comments.

The analyst’s comments come amid public outrage over his X post, complaining about his department’s employment profile and later sending out a job advert, hich stated that preference would be given to coloreds and Indians.

He’s also raised the ire of some South Africans for calling for illegal foreigners to be banned from public hospitals.

 

While some have accused McKenzie of favoring other races over black candidates the Minister has hit back saying the other racial groups deserve opportunities too.

Speaking to YNews, Mahlangu says McKenzie’s comments are erroneous on many levels and undermines the country’s efforts to foster social cohesion.

According to the analyst,  the Sport, Arts and Culture Minister should have outlined that the government subscribes to the Employment Equity Act of South Africa when posting the controversial job advert.

The Minister is also facing flack for the comments he made last week during an urgent debate in Parliament over the withdrawal of the US funding of HIV/Aids intervention programmes across the globe, including South Africa.

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader called for illegal foreigners to be banned from hospitals and for the president to stop giving medical help to them.

Reacting to his comments, the political analyst insists that, at his level, McKenzie should offer productive and progressive solutions to challenges that the country is grappling with.

Mahlangu says other government structures, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), need to rid themselves of corrupt individuals for the country to win the battle against illegal migrants.

He cautions McKenzie against saying this to excite people instead of looking at the country’s legal framework.

Education activist, Hendrick Makaneta, wants the Minister to retract his comments.

Makaneta says McKenzie’s divisive rhetoric has far-reaching consequences, particularly for undocumented learners who are already vulnerable and marginalised.

“The Makhanda High Court’s landmark ruling reaffirmed that all learners, regardless of their documentation status, have the constitutional right to a basic education in South Africa. However, McKenzie’s comments undermine this right and perpetuate a harmful narrative that seeks to dehumanize and exclude certain members of our society. Undocumented learners, who happen to be children of undocumented immigrants, will not feel free to visit hospitals after McKenzie’s utterances,” adds Makaneta.