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IOL News
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Open Chats racist podcast: Marc Lottering, coloured community hit back
Marc Lottering has hit back at the Open Chats Podcast's racist remarks. Image: Rizqua Barnes The recent racist comments made on the popular "Open Chats Podcast" have ignited widespread outrage, prompting a strong and heartfelt response from members of the Coloured community and public figures alike. The remarks, which perpetuated harmful stereotypes and offensive generalisations about Coloured people, sparked a backlash that continues to reverberate across social media and beyond. Among the most notable responses came from well-known comedian Marc Lottering, who took to social media to address the hurtful statements with his trademark wit and sharp critique. Lottering posted, 'As someone who is mentally slow and who sleeps with his cousins, I've actually done rather well for myself. And nogal without hosting a podcast. Shem.' His sarcastic remark highlighted the absurdity of the stereotypes being perpetuated and the ignorance behind such comments. On X, James Brown voiced his frustration, writing: 'Every day, Coloured people have to fight stereotypes and to be seen as somebody in this country being a minority. We literally don't bother anyone, but people keep provoking us.' 'I'm happy for Open Chats to be made an example of, and it should not just be left as an apology!' Brown's words echoed the sentiment that apologies alone are insufficient in addressing the deep-seated prejudices that persist against the community. Many other voices from the Coloured community also spoke out. Sue shared a powerful statement: 'I am a proudly South African Coloured woman. Rooted in resilience, rich in heritage and unshakable in spirit. I carry generations of strength, culture and beauty in my blood." "My voice matters. My story matters. I am not a stereotype - I am a force. I rise, I thrive and I shine - with pride in who I am and where I come from. Coloured. Woman. South African. Powerful.' Colleen Muller added her voice to the discourse, stating: 'Too long, Coloureds are being looked down on. I had to hear from a black person that we are products of rape. I stand with you; we are all equal and the land belongs to everyone.' Bernadette, another proud member of the community, wrote: 'I am proudly Coloured. We are diverse and rich in culture. And sorry to say, they said what they wanted to say. Apology won't help; they need to be held accountable.' Singer Honeshma Margarido also publicly addressed the controversy. Taking to social media, she issued a heartfelt apology for her own comments made during a guest appearance on the "Open Chats Podcast". Margarido acknowledged that she had made an offensive generalisation about Coloured men she had dated, labelling them as 'crazy mentally.' She expressed deep regret, saying: "During my guest appearance on Open Chats Podcast, I made an offensive and harmful generalisation by saying that the Coloured men I dated were 'crazy mentally' and I deeply regret that statement.' She went on to say, 'I now understand that what I said was ignorant, irresponsible and damaging. It was a stereotype rooted in personal experience that I should never have projected onto an entire community. I take full accountability for my words and the hurt they caused.' Margarido closed by acknowledging the importance of growth and accountability: 'I am truly sorry. This has been a hard but necessary lesson. I have listened, reflected and committed to doing better." "No one deserved to be painted with one brush or reduced to harmful assumptions. To everyone who spoke up and held me accountable, thank you. Your voices are valid. I hear you and I will grow from this.' In response to the uproar, the "Open Chats Podcast" also issued a public apology through their social media channels. The team expressed regret over the clip that has been widely circulated online and made it clear that the intention was never to cause harm or disrespect to the Coloured community. 'We acknowledge the hurt caused by the clip that continues to circulate online and communicate our genuine regret for that. The intention was never to cause harm or disrespect the Coloured community." "Open Chats is a platform centred on open conversations, which at times touch on sensitive topics. We should conduct our conversations respectfully,' the statement read. The podcast team further confirmed that the offending clip has been removed from the episode and promised that follow-up discussions addressing the matter will be featured in an upcoming episode. They thanked those who reached out to hold them accountable and pledged to learn from the incident. Despite these apologies, social media remains fervently critical, with many users and community members demanding that the podcast be taken down entirely. The controversy took a legal turn when the Patriotic Alliance (PA) filed criminal charges against Open Chats Podcast hosts Mthokozisi Methula and Sinothando Kama. Liam Jacobs, spokesperson for the PA, was seen in a video posted on social media entering the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria on Wednesday, August 6, to formally open the case. The PA's legal team has also sent a formal letter to the podcast hosts, stating that their brief apology and removal of the clip are both legally and morally insufficient. The party is demanding more decisive action and has plans to lodge a formal complaint with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), urging a review of its broadcast contract with the podcast. Additionally, the PA intends to pursue proceedings in the Equality Court for unlawful discrimination and has vowed to submit a complaint to YouTube, requesting the immediate removal of the offending podcast episode from the platform. PA leader Gayton McKenzie also took to social media to condemn the remarks in no uncertain terms. He emphasised that their goal is not to destroy the podcast hosts personally but to prevent the perpetuation of harmful narratives that damage the perception of Coloured people as a whole. 'It has become too easy to insult Coloured people in this country. It has become too easy to have something to say about Coloured people. People will say things about Coloured people and it's pure racism,' McKenzie stated. He firmly declared, 'Enough is enough,' announcing plans for mass protests involving thousands of supporters to march to the offices of the podcast's production as well as to the broadcasters airing the show. The PA will also escalate the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to seek justice and ensure accountability.
The South African
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Kultura Festival to celebrate 200 years of Durbanville
Have you heard about the Kultura Festival happening in Durbanville? This inaugural event marks Durbanville's 200-year history. Held from June 20 to 27, 2025, it highlights music, theatre, comedy, and local traditions at Curro Durbanville High School. The lineup includes Marc Lottering, Barry Hilton, Early B, and Sandra Prinsloo. Public speaking and band competitions are also featured. A wine festival featuring top local estates adds to the experience. Naturally, the small town of Durbanville is abuzz with the prospect of this festival in their town's honour. Deon van Zyl Project Lead for the Kultura Festival, Curro Durbanville High School Van Zyl said: 'Bringing a culture festival to Durbanville is quite exciting. Durbanville is an area rich in culture, with an array of performers and artists making it their home. Furthermore, there are many schools in the area with culture-rich programmes, so it is definitely in our blood.' They have compiled a programme that will cater to a wide variety of people, ranging from serious drama to rap music. 'From serious drama, with the acclaimed Sandra Prinsloo in 'Kamphoer' on Friday, 20 June, three fantastic comedy acts on the Saturday with wonderful names like Marion Holm, Marc Lottering and Barry Hilton. 'We're excited about Early B and DJ Vega on Tuesday, 24 June, and then ending the festival off with a high school Band Battle where Francois van Coke will be our main judge. Francois and his band will also be performing as guest artists.' Van Zyl is particularly excited to introduce a brand-new show, which was especially created for the festival. 'On Sunday, 22 June, the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will be performing with the well-known singer, Zanne Stapelberg, in a production entitled Symphony and Song. 'They will be performing music from famous musicals, operas and movies to entertain audience members of all ages.' Having been raised in Durbanville, Van Zyl has an immense affinity for his town. 'Growing up in a culturally rich area, such as Durbanville, is what inspired me to be in the performing arts myself and to become a teacher. Durbanville has a rich cultural heritage, and the festival seeks to pay homage to this tapestry of creeds and outlooks. 'Not only does culture form a great part of our heritage in Durbanville, but we are surrounded by wine farms, which is also a large element of the town's culture. That is why we are not only bringing culture to the festival, but also a wine festival during the first weekend of the festival. 'Twelve wines in our area will display their best wines, and visitors will be able to buy a tasting ticket at the door to then taste these delectable wines.' The diversity of his community is a focal point for this event. 'As a school, Curro Durbanville High School wants to create a space where anyone and everyone can experience and celebrate culture and to bring the community closer together. The main thing Van Zyl hopes you feel at the festival is an overwhelming sense of enjoyment. 'Be it watching Marc Lottering telling his insanely funny stories of his life, or dancing to the rhythm of Early B's music. We hope that the festival goers will enjoy themselves so much that they will come back next year.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
