Ntsiki Mazwai
Sports minister Gayton McKenzie Image: X @OnsBaizaNie

Home » ‘I will take you to court’: Gayton McKenzie threatens Ntsiki Mazwai with legal action

‘I will take you to court’: Gayton McKenzie threatens Ntsiki Mazwai with legal action

‘You have gone very far this time’: Minister Gayton McKenzie threatens Ntsiki Mazwai with legal action after online ‘slander.’

Ntsiki Mazwai
Sports minister Gayton McKenzie Image: X @OnsBaizaNie

Unathi Nkayi recently had the honour of performing for Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel at the prestigious Havana Book Fair in Cuba, but Ntsiki Mazwai is unhappy.

She was one of the 15 South African authors who spent two weeks in Cuba.

Many didn’t welcome her selection, including Ntsiki Mazwai, who accused the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie and the government of corruption.

She accused them of being corrupt for including Unathi Nkayi on the list when she is not a best-selling author, while celebrated authors failed to make it.

An unapologetic Ntsiki Mazwai questioned Minister Gayton McKenzie, “They chose someone who isn’t even a writer or poet. Cuba specifically asked for us. Unathi is not a writer.”

She went on to accuse the government of giving certain individuals some preferential treatment. Ntsiki Mazwai made it known that she flew business class while others were in economy.

She went on to allege that she also had her stay in a five-star hotel while others were booked in three-star hotels.

 “She flew business class while others were in economy. Why? Why was one booked in a five-star hotel while other writers were booked in three-star hotels?” Ntsiki Mazwai vented.

However, McKenzie revealed that he doesn’t take the allegations lightly.

He threatened to take legal action against the poet,  “Ntsiki, you have made very serious allegations against me, very slanderous. I will take you to court. You will have a perfect opportunity to show the court of law your evidence.”

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie added, “You have gone very far this time.”

The minister asked her about the Cubans’ invitation to the book fair. Mazwai requested his email details and dragged the Patriotic Alliance into the mix.

She says the list also included people from Gayton McKenzie’s political party. “Are there also people from PA on your list? Can we unpack that, too?”

‘SHE ACCUSED ME OF STEALING HER DESIGNS…’: UNATHI NKAYI

On the other hand, Unathi Nkayi opened up about their fallout, which dates back to 2002.

Unathi Nkayi said, “In 2002, two days after I hosted the SAMAs, she found my number and called me. I had never met her, had never spoken to her, and did not know of her until then.

“She accused me of stealing her designs whilst I hosted the awards.” 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF NTSIKI MAZWAI’S ALLEGATIONS?

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