Patriotic Alliance files charges against Open Chats Podcast for racist remarks

The Patriotic Alliance has filed criminal charges against Open Chats Podcast hosts Mthokozisi Methula and Sinothando Kama following their racist remarks aimed at the Coloured community.

The PA's Liam Jacobs, shared a video in which he can be seen walking into and opening a case at the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The podcast hosts and production team have come under fire after a clip from the original recording went viral.

In the clip, which, according to the podcast team, has since been deleted from the recording, the hosts make several racist comments, claiming that not only do Coloured families have sexual relationships with each other (incest), but they also suffer mental issues.

"Coloureds apparently chow (have sex with) each other," one of the hosts says.

In response, a co-host says, "I do believe that because Coloureds are crazy.

Meanwhile, the PA's legal team has sent a letter addressed to the hosts.

According to the letter, the podcast's team's "brief apology and removal of the offending clip are legally and morally insufficient."

The PA also plans to lodge a formal complaint with the SABC, requesting a review of its broadcast contract.

The party further states that it will institute proceedings in the Equality Court for unlawful discrimination.

"[We will] submit a complaint to YouTube demanding the immediate removal of your podcast episode from the platform," the letter stated.

PA leader, Gayton McKenzie took to social media where he condemned the hosts' comments. 

He said the plan is not to "destroy" the hosts but if nothing is done, the perceptions and narrative created by the podcast will destroy other people's mentality of Coloured people. 

"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 said. 

He said racism towards any race group in South Africa is wrong. 

"Enough is enough," McKenzie said adding that the PA will march - in their thousands - to the various offices where the podcast is recorded as well as those broadcasters where it is aired. 

He said the party will also take the matter up with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). 

The Open Chats Podcast has issued a public apology via its social media pages, regretting the incident. 

"The intention was never to cause harm or disrespect the Coloured community. Open Chats is a platform centred around open conversations which does at times touch on on sensitive topics, and with that said we do understand that as a platform we should conduct our conversations in a respectful manner," read the apology. 

Rejecting the apology, the Civil society organisation Cape Forum said it was " inadequate since it serves more as an explanation of the wrongdoing rather than displaying sincere regrets."

The Forum's executive chairperson, Heindrich Wyngaard added that will request the SAHRC to urgently investigate the matter.

The Democratic Alliance's Dr Ivan Meyer said the party has reported the matter to the SAHRC. 

"Hate speech, harmful racial stereotyping, and the public degradation of any group in our society cannot be tolerated," Meyer said. 

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

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