Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie has refuted his claims that his comments about Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina are “xenophobic.”
The outspoken politician is accused of making “reckless” statements and possibly inciting violence after he referred to the pageant contestant as a “Nigerian.”
Chidimma – who is a South African citizen – was born to a Nigerian father and a SA mother of Mozambican descent.
GAYTON MCKENZIE DEFENDS COMMENTS ABOUT CHIDIMMA ADETSHINA
Speaking to Power FM, Gayton McKenzie was questioned over his comments likening Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina to an illegal foreign national.
He said: “I have to go and investigate, I can’t just talk. If she is South African, then we wish her well. But if she is not South African, we can’t have her represent us. I am waiting for answers.”
Referring to criticism of his initial comments, Gayton added: “They say it’s xenophobic when you ask questions. How can it be xenophobic? We must ask questions.
“My surname is McKenzie and there are some people who ask me if I am South African. I don’t get offended.
“We are being overrun by illegal foreigners; the emphasis is on illegal.
“Because I’m a minister, I can stop talking about the problems.”
WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT THE MISS SA FINALIST?
On his official X account, Gayton McKenzie responded to “troll” Chris Excel, who asked him for his opinion on the pageant finalist.
The Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture – who returned home from the Paris Olympics over the weekend—tweeted: “We truly cannot have Nigerians compete in our Miss SA competition. I want to get all the facts before I comment, but it’s already gives funny vibes”.
Gayton’s tweets were condemned by the public and politicians who accused him of xenophobia and Afrophobia.
nigerian, gayton mckenzie, miss sa, chidimma adetshina
Gayton McKenzie has been labelled xenophobic after he referred to Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina as a ‘Nigerian’. Images via Facebook: @mckenzie.gayton/ YouTube screenshot: EFF podcast
Former DA MP Phumzile van Damme tweeted: “It’s quite enough now. The cyberbullying is quite enough now. So much anger and hatred over a beauty contest.
EFF MP Naledi Chirwa tweeted of Gayton: “You’re not ‘Patriotic’ at all. You don’t know the South African Constitution. You don’t respect South African governance office at EXECUTIVE level”.