Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has said South Africans should enjoy Chris Brown’s upcoming concert even though the pressure group Women For Change is petitioning for it to be cancelled because of the singer’s past abuse of women.

“South Africans love dancing,” McKenzie said. “Chris Brown’s concert was sold out in two hours. Our people are hungry for international acts. Don’t go any further. Go to the Chris Brown concert.”

Women For Change opposes gender-based violence and campaigns for the rights of women and children in South Africa.

The non-profit organisation said the concert would insult the millions of women and girls affected by violence in Mzansi and internationally.

Social media users are divided on the issue, with some posting in favour of cancelling the concert while others say it should go ahead.

Women For Change referred to the 2009 case in which Brown was convicted of viciously assaulting Rihanna, his then-girlfriend.

Brown seems unbothered by the petition, commenting that he “cannot wait to come” to South Africa.

The singer’s “Breezy in South Africa” concert will be held on 14 December at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. This will be his first performance in the country in almost 10 years.