Ex-26 Gang Minister McKenzie Sparks Outrage Over Message to Podcast Kids: ‘We Know Your Addresses’

Breaking News: Ex-26 Gang Minister’s ‘Address’ Comments Raise Safety Fears for Podcast Hosts

Johannesburg, August 14, 2025 Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, a former high-ranking figure in the notorious 26 Gang turned politician, is under fire after remarks many see as a veiled threat to the young Open Chats podcast hosts embroiled in a heated national racism controversy.

In a recent address, McKenzie revealed that after the podcast’s offensive remarks about Coloured South Africans went viral, there was an active attempt by unknown individuals to locate the personal addresses of the hosts.

“People didn’t see the call that was like, ‘Can somebody give us the address of those kids? Where do these kids go?’ And I was the one that called those people. I said, ‘No, don’t do that. I’m handling this.’ But people don’t see that. Those kids don’t know who they’re messing with. Not in me, but every race has people that will take anything.”

While McKenzie insists he intervened to prevent a possible escalation, critics argue that even raising the matter publicly and referencing that others “wanted their addresses” amounts to a subliminal warning. The phrasing, especially the line “Those kids don’t know who they’re messing with”, has been interpreted by many as a signal that harm could come from other quarters if the feud continues.

The controversy stems from an episode of Open Chats that McKenzie condemned as racist, citing harmful stereotypes about the Coloured community. Since then, he has not only initiated legal action but also given the SABC a seven-day ultimatum to cancel the podcast or face a 20,000-person protest outside its headquarters.

Civil society organisations and free-speech advocates say McKenzie’s comments straddle a dangerous line between political outrage and personal intimidation. “It’s one thing to condemn racism; it’s another to hint even indirectly that young people could be in physical danger,” said a spokesperson from a Johannesburg media watchdog.

The incident has reignited debate over the conduct of politicians with criminal pasts and whether such backgrounds create a heightened risk of rhetoric spilling into intimidation. McKenzie’s history as a former gang leader lends weight to the perception that his words carry an implicit threat, even if unintended.

The SABC has yet to respond to either the ultimatum or growing concerns over the safety of the Open Chats hosts. Meanwhile, South Africans remain divided with some applauding McKenzie’s uncompromising defence of his community and others warning that this kind of rhetoric sets a dangerous precedent for media freedom and public safety.