Gayton McKenzie asks PNC Skits to delete Soweto Derby parody
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has publicly asked the comedy group PNC Skits to take down a parody of a Soweto Derby accessibility moment, and South Africans are divided.
Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie has publicly asked the comedy collective People Need Comedy, known as PNC Skits, to remove a skit that parodies a widely shared Soweto Derby moment, Briefly News reported.
What the skit shows
The video went up on 6 November 2026. It was filmed in a stadium with rows of empty blue seats behind the performers. The format resembles a podcast: four men sit side by side with headphones on. Comedian Tsitsi Chiumya takes the lead, acting out what appears to be the earlier accessibility moment. He jokes about directions and narrates the scene in a mock-commentary style.
According to Briefly News, the clip seems to refer to an earlier video from a Soweto Derby match, in which visually impaired supporters were helped to follow the occasion in the stadium. That video was praised widely as a warm example of inclusion in South African football.
The minister’s response
McKenzie reacted on X. He began by saying he is a big fan of the group, then told them “this ain’t cool or funny” and asked them to delete the clip. His post drew the attention of thousands of users and revived a debate about where the limits of comedy lie when disability is involved.
South Africans split
Reaction online fell into two camps, Briefly News said. Some users agreed with the minister. One argued that people who are blind did not choose their condition and should not be mocked. Another said some subjects are best left out of jokes.
Others defended the skit. One user wrote that “comedy has no boundaries”, saying people who go to comedy shows know this. A more measured comment said comedy is subjective and that anyone who dislikes a piece of satire is free to say so.
What happens next
The report does not say whether PNC Skits has responded to the minister or taken the video down. Briefly News noted that the group’s decision to lampoon the original moment appears to have triggered the backlash, and that McKenzie’s intervention has given the debate a new dimension.
For now, the episode is a reminder that content built on a moment of public goodwill, especially one about accessibility, can attract strong reactions. Any update from the comedy group would show whether the clip stays online.
This story is based on reporting by Briefly News.
