Ryan Swano
Public outrage is boiling over after an Open Chats Podcast clip surfaced online showing the hosts making derogatory remarks about the Coloured community. In the viral footage, the hosts are heard making several racist claims, insinuating that it is a norm for incest to occur within Coloured families and describing people from the Coloured community as “crazy.”
Political Parties Lay Charges
Both the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Patriotic Alliance (PA) responded swiftly, taking action on 6 August 2025 after the offensive clip gained traction online.
Liam Jacobs, a recent defector from the DA now aligned with the PA, visited Brooklyn Police Station in Hatfield, Tshwane, to file a criminal case against the podcast. He stated that he had received the mandate to proceed legally. The video shows Jacobs entering the station and officially laying the charge.
Meanwhile, the DA revealed that it had lodged a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission. The party strongly denounced the remarks made on the podcast, calling the content deeply offensive and divisive.
WATCH: Gayton McKenzie Condemns Open Chat Podcasters & SABC2
Leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), Gayton McKenzie, in a live video on his Facebook Page said that it has become to comfortable and easy to be racist towards Coloured people and not sufferng any consequences, and that in his own party he has fired Coloured people for being racist towards black people. It would thus be wrong of him if to not deal with racism towards Coloured people and that something needs to be done to deal with the Open Chat podcasters.
McKenzie has also made it clear that the PA plans to challenge SABC2. The fact that the podcast broadcast on SABC2 was not live means the channel’s management has approved of the content and are therefore complicit.
It has however turned out, just before publication, that the Open Chat Podcast is Not Broadcast on any of the SABC channels and Gayton McKenzie has issued an apology to that effect.
Racist Rant Triggers Real Consequences as DSTV Drops Open Chat
MultiChoice spokesperson Suzaan Keyter confirmed to TshisaLIVE the podcast’s contract with DStv ended on July 25 and said the platform is committed to maintaining quality and content standards.
“MultiChoice is aware of recent comments made on the Open Chats Podcast,” said Keyter.
“Open Chats’ contract with DStv ended on July 25 as the show was removed to make way for our August content slate. The [derogatory] episode was not aired on our platform.
“MultiChoice adheres to stringent quality control processes and does not promote any discriminatory content.”
Duty and Responsibility of Content Creators
This incident has sparked renewed discussions about the duty and responsibility of content creators and streaming platforms to promote respectful and inclusive media, particularly within South Africa’s diverse society.
Users on X also slammed the podcasters:
Naledi said:
“I need them sued and banned from ever hosting a podcast.”
Theo King said:
“That video is racist, dehumanising and dangerous.”
Somila said:
“This is utter nonsense. Again, there needs to be a way to regulate these podcasts.”
Tshepo Lucas said:
“They should be made to learn the hard way because lately it seems anyone can say anything about a person and people, and it goes unpunished.”
Mrs Neavy said:
“Disgusting and racist! Not to mention ignorant and uneducated.”
Public Apology
Open Chats Podcast issued a statement and a letter from their lawyers making a public apologies to the Coloured community. It may have come a little too late.
Open Chats Podcast made this public apologies about the Coloured community pic.twitter.com/dvDapI8DE0
— Baba Boss (@BabaBoss_12X) August 6, 2025
Political Party Outrage Not Entirely Sincere
Charles Ash, founder of Bruinou.com, says that the outrage, specifically from politicians, isn’t entirely sincere.
“This faux outrage is quite predictable, but where is the righteous, energised outrage against gang violence on the Cape Flats? Drug addiction that ravages our communities? Where is the outrage against the total exclusion of Black and Coloured people in the Western Cape from having any meaningful stake in the multi-billion Rand tourism sector or property sector, or agricultural sector? Where is the outrage against the murder rate on the Cape Flats?”
“So before we expend our energy on performative outrage, we need to ask ourselves, what are we doing with our energies to be proactive in creating the communities and societies that we want to live in and be proud of?”
“We need to pick our battles and commit to fighting the really important ones, together.”
