South Africa's Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister, Zizi Kodwa, is facing a formal investigation after historical social media posts containing racial slurs surfaced, threatening to destabilise the country's fragile coalition government.
The probe, confirmed by the Office of the Presidency, centres on screenshots of alleged comments made by Kodwa on Twitter (now X) between 2011 and 2013. The posts reportedly contain derogatory terms targeting white and Indian South Africans.
Coalition Government Under Strain
The scandal emerges at a critical juncture for President Cyril Ramaphosa's Government of National Unity (GNU), a power-sharing arrangement between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA). The DA, a historically white-led party, has demanded immediate action, labelling the posts 'abhorrent' and incompatible with a ministerial role.
Kodwa, a senior ANC figure and former party spokesperson, has not denied the posts' authenticity. He has stated he does not recall making them but has apologised 'unreservedly' for any offence caused, attributing the language to the 'heated political context' of the time.
A Test for South Africa's Future
Political analysts suggest this incident presents a major test for the nascent unity government. 'This goes to the heart of the GNU's promise of reconciliation,' commented one Cape Town-based analyst. 'How it handles a senior figure from the ANC over historical racial rhetoric will be watched intensely by all sides.'
The Public Protector's office, an independent watchdog, will lead the investigation to determine if Kodwa violated the Executive Ethics Code. Potential outcomes range from a formal apology to his dismissal from cabinet, a move that could upset the delicate balance of power.
As the investigation proceeds, the controversy underscores the enduring challenges South Africa faces in confronting its complex racial past and present within its political landscape.
