‘FIRE GAYTON’

The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Gayton McKenzie.

Giwusa are accusing McKenzie’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture of discriminating against blacks in new job post advertised last week. 

In a job hunt for two administrative support positions - one in office of the minister and another as parliamentary and cabinet support - the ads specified that “preference will be given to Coloured Males, Indian Males, White Males, Coloured Females and Indian Females.”

It sparked a firestorm online, with Giwusa making its stem dik. 

In a statement, Giwusa said that the ad was “crudely racist, a flagrant act of systemic exclusion against African candidates and a blatant violation of the law”.

It added: “Such discrimination is not only divisive and oppressive, it serves the interests of political elites attempting to distract the working class from their failure to deliver jobs or basic service.

“The advert and requirements also violate the principles of equity enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution and perpetuates the very injustices the constitution mandates every state organ to actively dismantle.”

The union then took aim at the Patriotic Alliance leader. 

It said: “He must either withdraw the advert or the President must make him withdraw it.

“Failure to meet these demands within seven working days will compel GIWUSA to pursue all available legal avenues, including filing a complaint with the Commission for Employment Equity and the Human Rights Commission, and mobilising mass action to protest.”

McKenzie, who celebrated his 51st birthday on Monday, hit back. 

In response to a new report, McKenzie wrote on Facebook: “Coloureds, Whites & Indians should also get job opportunities, you cant threatened me with Unions, i will not retreat or retract (sic). 

He added in another response: “I am for all races. 

“When I find that other races has been ignored and rarely given a job opportunity, it is my duty to fix it. I’m fixing things. 

“I want all races to be represented in the Department that I lead, go boil somewhere else.”

McKenzie also called for the government to stop medical treatment of illegal migrants in a Parliamentary debate, saying: "Can we immediately stop giving medical help to illegal foreigners? They should be banned from our hospitals. They must go to their country."

GIWUSA president Mametlwe Sebei said: “President Cyril Ramaphosa must fire Gayton McKenzie as a Minister and Parliament should also discipline him for this racism, anti-migrant hateful conduct and other criminal conduct.