Gayton Mckenzie
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie has apologised to the South African Broadcasting Corporation after wrongly accusing it of hosting an independent podcast where hosts made hurtful comments about the Coloured community, and he now plans to press ahead with legal steps against the show for what he calls racism.
What Sparked the Controversy
The trouble started with a clip from The Open Chats Podcast that spread quickly online, showing hosts making unkind and stereotyped remarks about Coloured people in South Africa. They called the community “incestuous” and “crazy”, among other things that many found deeply offensive and harmful. These words touched on old, unfair ideas that have hurt Coloured folks for years, making people feel angry and let down in a country still working to heal from its divided past.
The podcast, run by a group of young presenters, talks about everyday topics like life, culture, and news, but this episode crossed a line for many listeners. It led to a big outcry on social media, with people sharing the video and calling for the hosts to say sorry or face consequences. Some said the comments broke the country’s rules against hate speech, which aim to protect everyone’s dignity in a free South Africa.
McKenzie, who often speaks up for Coloured rights as head of the Patriotic Alliance, saw the clip and thought the South African Broadcasting Corporation had something to do with it. He believed the show ran on their platforms, maybe because of similar names or past links, and quickly warned of court action against the public broadcaster. This mix-up added fuel to the fire, pulling the SABC into a mess they had no part in.
McKenzie’s Apology and Shift in Focus
After talking things over with the SABC’s top boss, McKenzie realised his mistake and owned up to it. In a public message, he said: “I have made contact with the SABC CEO. Rightfully so that we are wrong mentioning SABC in our podcast that they have nothing to do with that. We don’t work with them. They are not on the SABC platform. So let me apologise to the SABC for the mistake that they’re part of. I have also spoken to Multi-Choice. There should be no place to hide for racists. If you are white racist, black racist, coloured racist, a racist remains a racist. In SA, there should be no place for racism.”
His words showed real regret for dragging the SABC in, but he stayed firm on fighting what he sees as wrong talk. McKenzie made it clear that racism in any form has no spot in the country, no matter who says it. He also reached out to MultiChoice, the company behind many TV channels, to check if they had ties to the podcast, showing he wanted to get to the bottom of things.
The SABC quickly set the record straight, saying they have nothing to do with The Open Chats Podcast and do not air it. They welcomed the apology and reminded everyone that they work hard to share stories that bring people together, not pull them apart.
Legal Steps Against the Podcast
Even with the apology to the SABC, McKenzie and his party are not letting the podcast off easy. The Patriotic Alliance first filed charges at a police station but plans to pull them back this evening and refile in Johannesburg, leaving out any mention of the SABC to fix the error.
Their lawyer, Eugine Botha, explained the reasons: “The first charge is that the statement made on the podcast constitutes hate speech in terms of section 41 of the Prevention of Combating of Hate Crime and Hate Speech Act 2023. And then that also amounts to crimen injuria and a common law offence that tarnishes the dignity of others. The derogatory comments made against the Coloured South Africans constitute and violate their social standing in a democratic South Africa.”
This law, new from 2023, makes it a crime to say things that hurt groups based on race or background, aiming to stop words that lead to hate or fights. Crimen injuria is an old rule against insulting someone’s honour, and Botha says the podcast’s words did just that to Coloured people, making them feel less in a land where everyone should stand equal.
Police will now look into the claims, talking to the hosts and checking if the remarks break these rules. If found guilty, the presenters could face fines or even time behind bars, depending on how bad the court sees it.
Reactions from Leaders and the Community
The fallout has drawn words from other leaders too. Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, slammed the podcast for spreading harmful ideas that go against the country’s push for unity. She said such talk sets back the work to make South Africa fair for all, especially during times when people are already dealing with tough issues like job loss and high costs.
In the Coloured community, many shared their pain online, saying the comments brought back bad memories of being looked down on. Groups like the Coloured People’s Congress called for the hosts to learn more about history and respect, maybe through talks or classes on why words matter. Some folks did not accept any sorry from the podcast, saying it came too late and did not fix the hurt.
The hosts of The Open Chats Podcast have tried to say sorry, but many turned it down, calling it weak or not real. They said their words were just jokes or light talk, but critics argue that does not make it okay when it steps on people’s feelings.
Download Here:
Direct PDF File Here:
https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Central-News-Issue-114-1.pdf
Read all our publications on magzter:
https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues
_________
Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content, Podcasts , Radio / Social Media Simulcast, Video Production , Live Streaming Services, Press Conferences, and Paid Interviews (Video/Audio) etc.
We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment.
Advertisement:
To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za
For Business Related:
business@centralnews.co.za
Newsroom:
Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za
General Info:
info@centralnews.co.za
Office Administrator:
admin@centralnews.co.za
Whatsapp / Call: 081 495 5487
Website: https://www.centralnews.co.za
Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube
#centralnewsza #news #politics