Parliament’s Ethics Committee has found Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson guilty of breaching Parliament’s ethical code after making discriminatory remarks against ActionSA supporters during a confrontation outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court in 2025.
The Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests found Macpherson guilty of contravening Sections 5(1)(e) and 5(1)(f) of Parliament’s Code of Ethical Conduct, which require Members of Parliament to maintain public confidence in Parliament and remain committed to eradicating all forms of discrimination.
This comes after Macpherson came under fire in July last year after videos circulated on social media showing him referring to a group of ActionSA supporters gathered outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court as “amaphara” during a heated political confrontation outside court proceedings.
The confrontation took place outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court during politically charged court proceedings linked to tensions involving supporters of former president Jacob Zuma and rival political formations. ActionSA supporters had gathered outside court when an altercation broke out, after which Macpherson referred to the group as “amaphara”.
The remarks triggered widespread backlash, with critics accusing the minister of using language that reinforced harmful racial and class stereotypes against black supporters. ActionSA subsequently lodged complaints with both Parliament’s Ethics Committee and the South African Human Rights Commission, arguing that the comments violated constitutional principles of dignity, equality and non-discrimination.
At the time, Macpherson denied that the remarks were discriminatory. In his submission before the Ethics Committee, the minister argued that he had not referred to all ActionSA supporters as “amaphara” but was instead speaking about a specific individual allegedly involved in disruptive behaviour outside court.
However, the Ethics Committee rejected Macpherson’s defence, finding that the remarks were derogatory, discriminatory and damaging to the dignity of those targeted.
ActionSA MP Alan Beesley welcomed the ruling, saying it affirmed that politically connected leaders could not be shielded from accountability.
“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,” said Beesley.
Beesley noted that the committee expressly rejected Macpherson’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,” he said.
The committee recommended that Macpherson be formally reprimanded in the National Assembly and be required to enter an apology into the official parliamentary record.
ActionSA welcomed the recommendation, describing it as an important affirmation that public office bearers cannot evade consequences for discriminatory conduct.
“This outcome sends an important message that maliciously discriminatory conduct cannot simply be excused or ignored when committed by politically connected individuals,” Beesley added.
The party also criticised the Democratic Alliance for what it described as its silence on the matter.
“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.”
ActionSA said it would also submit the Ethics Committee’s findings as additional supporting evidence in its ongoing complaint before the South African Human Rights Commission.
“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.”
The Star
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