Minister Gayton McKenzie Defends Cuba Delegation Amid Allegations of Favoritism

Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has strongly rejected allegations that the delegation sent to the Havana International Book Fair in Cuba was filled with his “cronies” and party promoters. The minister responded to the claims in a Facebook post on Sunday, standing firm on his decisions regarding the delegation.

“My crime was wanting inclusion,” McKenzie wrote, explaining his role in approving the list of writers and poets sent to Cuba. As the final signatory for the department, McKenzie said he had received a list of attendees and immediately expressed a desire for greater racial diversity. “I took one look at that list and told the acting director-general, chief of staff, and my spokesperson that I wanted to see more inclusion,” he stated, emphasizing that people from various racial backgrounds, including Coloured and White individuals, should be included.

The delegation, funded by the department, consisted of 15 South African writers and artists. McKenzie’s comments came after authors criticized his selections for the event, with some suggesting the list was biased and lacked representation from major voices in the literary community.

In response to criticisms, McKenzie further asserted, “I can pull you previous trips undertaken overseas, and you will see who was excluded. I will never apologize for wanting to include all races.” He went on to clarify that he had only met two individuals on the list and was unfamiliar with most of the selected participants. “I don’t care about the media. Write what you like, I have a million people following me on all my socials, I will get my version across anytime,” McKenzie remarked.

He also addressed the leaks of information, claiming that the negative stories were coming from people within his department whom he had removed from the Cuba trip.

The controversy has raised concerns within the South African writing community. According to a report by City Press, McKenzie allegedly ignored prominent voices in literature and included individuals with political ties, including pro-Israeli clerics and supporters of his own party, the Patriotic Alliance (PA). Historian and author Patric Tariq Mellet criticized McKenzie’s inclusion of three PA promoters, claiming they were not “authors of note.”

Ismail Mahomed, director of the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, added that the issue was less about the final list and more about the minister’s lack of transparency and policy credibility.

The Havana International Book Fair, which is taking place from February 15 to February 23, has South Africa attending as a guest of honor. Despite the ongoing debate, McKenzie’s position remains clear: his commitment to inclusivity and fairness stands firm, even in the face of scrutiny.

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