ActionSA welcomes the finding by Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests that the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, breached Parliament’s Code of Ethical Conduct by making discriminatory remarks directed at ActionSA supporters in July last year.
The Committee found the Minister guilty of contravening Sections 5(1)(e) and 5(1)(f) of the Code, which require Members of Parliament to:
- maintain public confidence and trust in the integrity of Parliament; and
- remain committed to the eradication of all forms of discrimination.
The finding stems from remarks made by the Minister outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court in July 2025, where he referred to a group of predominantly black ActionSA supporters as “amaphara”. These remarks, which circulated widely on social media, quite rightly drew widespread public outrage.
Importantly, the Ethics Committee expressly rejected the Minister’s defence that the term “amaphara” was not discriminatory. The Committee instead found that the term is derogatory and discriminatory, creates social stigma, and labels those targeted by it as societal outcasts.
ActionSA welcomes the Committee’s recommendation that the Minister be formally reprimanded in the National Assembly and be required to enter an apology into the official parliamentary record. This outcome sends an important message that maliciously discriminatory conduct cannot simply be excused or ignored when committed by politically connected individuals.
It is deeply disappointing that, despite the seriousness of these remarks, the Minister’s own party, the Democratic Alliance, has failed to take any meaningful public action against him. Silence and inaction in the face of discrimination only serve to normalise it.
As a non-racial party committed to building a South Africa for all who live in it, ActionSA will continue advancing the values of dignity, equality and mutual respect. Remarks of this nature have no place in our democracy — particularly from a sitting Cabinet Minister entrusted with serving all South Africans.
ActionSA will also forward the Ethics Committee’s finding as additional supporting evidence in the ongoing complaint before the South African Human Rights Commission relating to the same matter.
ActionSA Welcomes Guilty Finding Against Minister Macpherson for Discriminatory Remarks
ActionSA welcomes the finding by Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests that the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, breached Parliament’s Code of Ethical Conduct by making discriminatory remarks directed at ActionSA supporters in July last year.
The Committee found the Minister guilty of contravening Sections 5(1)(e) and 5(1)(f) of the Code, which require Members of Parliament to:
The finding stems from remarks made by the Minister outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court in July 2025, where he referred to a group of predominantly black ActionSA supporters as “amaphara”. These remarks, which circulated widely on social media, quite rightly drew widespread public outrage.
Importantly, the Ethics Committee expressly rejected the Minister’s defence that the term “amaphara” was not discriminatory. The Committee instead found that the term is derogatory and discriminatory, creates social stigma, and labels those targeted by it as societal outcasts.
ActionSA welcomes the Committee’s recommendation that the Minister be formally reprimanded in the National Assembly and be required to enter an apology into the official parliamentary record. This outcome sends an important message that maliciously discriminatory conduct cannot simply be excused or ignored when committed by politically connected individuals.
It is deeply disappointing that, despite the seriousness of these remarks, the Minister’s own party, the Democratic Alliance, has failed to take any meaningful public action against him. Silence and inaction in the face of discrimination only serve to normalise it.
As a non-racial party committed to building a South Africa for all who live in it, ActionSA will continue advancing the values of dignity, equality and mutual respect. Remarks of this nature have no place in our democracy — particularly from a sitting Cabinet Minister entrusted with serving all South Africans.
ActionSA will also forward the Ethics Committee’s finding as additional supporting evidence in the ongoing complaint before the South African Human Rights Commission relating to the same matter.