Gayton McKenzie Defends André Esterhuizen Captaincy Amid 2012 Racial Slur Controversy
- Gayton McKenzie shared a Facebook video after claiming the media twisted his words about Springbok star André Esterhuizen's captaincy
- The Sports Minister revealed he was set to meet SA Rugby to receive a full report on the Esterhuizen controversy
- McKenzie drew on his own criminal past to argue that people deserve second chances and can change
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Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has stepped forward to set the record straight after he felt media reports misrepresented his stance on the André Esterhuizen captaincy saga.
Source: UGC
Posting directly to Facebook on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, McKenzie shared a video recorded by his media team so that South Africans could hear his position in his own words.
Esterhuizen's appointment has been under scrutiny following renewed attention on a racial slur incident that dates back to 2012, with many questioning whether the Springbok star should lead the national side given that history.
Gayton McKenzie draws on his own past
Rather than calling for Esterhuizen to be stripped of the captaincy, McKenzie took a notably personal approach. He told viewers he is "the worst person in the world" to deny someone a second chance, pointing to his own time in prison as proof that people are capable of change.
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"I've done worse things than Andre Esterhuizen, and I've been forgiven. I've paid for my crimes, went to jail," McKenzie said in the video, adding that he does not believe anyone should be "punished for the rest of their lives" for past mistakes.
The minister did, however, express one clear expectation: that Esterhuizen has privately apologised to his victim and genuinely reckoned with what he did. McKenzie repeated this hope more than once throughout the clip, making it the emotional centre of his argument.
SA Rugby under pressure to explain
While personally backing Esterhuizen, McKenzie was candid in his criticism of SA Rugby's handling of the public fallout.
"I think they have failed in explaining the rationale behind that," he said, suggesting the governing body had not done nearly enough to communicate the reasoning behind their decision to the public.
McKenzie also told viewers he was scheduled to meet SA Rugby that week to receive a full briefing on the matter, and that he had already spoken informally to people in Esterhuizen's circle, who spoke positively about the player's character.
He framed his backing of the player in broader social terms, suggesting Esterhuizen's story could serve as a powerful example.
"We can use Andre Esterhuizen to show people that racism is not a way. The world will accept you if you are not a racist," McKenzie said, adding that based on what he had heard, he does not believe Esterhuizen still holds racist views.
Watch the clip below on Facebook.
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Source: Briefly News
