SAHRC probes podcasters for calling coloured people ‘incestuous' and ‘crazy'
The SA Human Rights Commission is investigating numerous complaints about derogatory remarks made on the Open Chats Podcast.
The podcast sparked public outrage when coloured people were labelled 'incestuous' and 'crazy'.
Commission chairperson Chris Nissen said the remarks were vile, appalling, and unacceptable.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says it has been inundated with complaints about comments in an episode that described coloured people as 'incestuous', 'crazy' people who 'sleep with their siblings'.
The episode of the Open Chats Podcast, hosted by Mthokozisi, Sonwabile, Lefa Hlalele, and Busisiwe Radebe, sparked outrage when a video clip was widely circulated on social media.
The clip has since been deleted.
Following intense public pressure, the hosts — via their legal representatives — issued an open letter of apology.
It read: 'The said statements have caused much outrage and offence, not only in the coloured community of South Africa but to all South Africans, irrespective of race, colour or creed.
'Our clients hereby deeply apologise for the pain and hurt that they have caused to the coloured community of South Africa. Our clients acknowledge unreservedly that the utterances made were inappropriate, sexist, racist, unfortunate, irresponsible, reckless, reminiscent of apartheid and unAfrican (contrary to the spirit of ubuntu), which were also tantamount to hate speech.'
READ | 'Degrading': Podcasters under fire for calling coloured people incestuous, 'crazy'
SAHRC chairperson Chris Nissen confirmed that the commission was investigating multiple complaints.
'We have received a number of complaints, and we will be conducting our own investigation as the commission because this is absolute rubbish that coloured people are being labelled in such a vile and appalling way,' he said.
Open Chats Podcast aired on Mzansi Wethu, DStv channel 163, but a MultiChoice spokesperson told News24 that 'the episode in question was not aired on our platform'.
'MultiChoice is aware of recent comments made on the Open Chats Podcast. Open Chats' contract with DStv ended on 25 July 2025 as the show was removed to make way for our August content slate,' the company said.
Meanwhile, political parties have since condemned the remarks.
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie said the party instituted legal action against the hosts.
He snapped:
We want to make an example of them. It's racism, and we must never allow people to become this comfortable. If we have to say that about other races, it would be on every front page.
The ANC added: 'These statements are not only offensive, but they run completely counter to the founding values of our democratic society: values of human dignity, non-racialism, and unity, as enshrined in our Constitution and the Freedom Charter.'
Freedom Front Plus MP Grant Marais said: 'Such utterances aren't just highly insulting, they also have the potential to fuel racial tensions between the black African and coloured communities, imperilling the frail social cohesion in South Africa.
'It is, however, unacceptable that individuals on a public platform use such hurtful stereotypes to undermine the human dignity of coloured communities and promote hate.'
DA federal chairperson Ivan Meyer said the party had lodged a complaint with the SAHRC.
'This is not humour. It is not harmless 'pop culture commentary'. It is an assault on the dignity of a community and an attempt to reduce the lived realities of South Africans to cheap, demeaning stereotypes for the sake of online clicks,' he said.
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