Open Chats Podcast. Picture: Instagram
In the wake of ongoing tensions after their statements made on the coloured community, the hosts of the Open Chats podcast have now been accused of being insincere in their apology.
In a recent post, the hosts (Mthokizisi and Lefa) shared statements expressing deep regret for offending people of the coloured community through their degrading comments, which stereotyped the race as being “crazy,” along with assumptions that they participate in intra-family sexual relationships.
Things later spiraled out of control when their comments caused widespread criticism on social media platforms, with many calling for the show to be reported and cancelled. However, in their statement, they assured the public that they would be addressing the matter in a follow-up episode.
This episode has since been aired, and the response is far from what onlookers expected.
In the latest episode, they claim that those belonging to the coloured community were being too sensitive.
Mthokizisi provided context to the recent backlash, saying, “They were coming for me. I said coloured people were chowing each other… yoh! They spammed the comment section.”
In response, Lefa added, “But I think you said it as a joke, we say a lot of things about Limpopo guys and they don’t take offense at it.”
The group, consisting of Lefa, Mthokozisi, and female co-hosts Busiswa and Sonwabile, later claimed that their comments were innocent, and that “jokes” like those were the nature of what their show is about before adding, “They are too sensitive. Coloured people are too sensitive.”
@lynnlesar Is this your apology???? #racism #disrepectful @openchatspodcast @Liam Jacobs @Jikselradio Online ♬ original sound – Lynn K
In response to the video, an internet user wrote: “Hawu they aren’t even remorseful even with hindsight? I give up.”
Others claimed that their public apology may have been insincere, considering their remarks in the latest video.
Patriotic Alliance member Liam Jacobs has since shared a video of himself paying a visit to the Brooklyn Police Station, where he lodged a complaint of crimen injuria, while party leader Gayton McKenzie criticised both DSTV and the SABC for failing to check the episode before airing it.
“What makes me furious is that it is not live. So where is the control?” asked the Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture.
The minister added that the reason for his firm approach is not to destroy the lives of these hosts, but that it is to prevent them from destroying themselves and others.
He shared that people have become too comfortable with sharing false narratives about coloured people without bearing the consequences of their actions, and insists that it stops now.
@news_livesa “Many people have said don’t destroy those kids, I have no intention of destroying them but if we do nothing we will destroy them and will destroy other kids, it has become too easy to insult coloured people in this country” Patriotic Alliance President Gayton McKenzie “We will make an example of them, so that they don’t do this anymore, if you don’t do anything to them you are destroying them because you’re gonna make them grow up thinking it’s okay to be #racist ” @GaytonMcK adrreses Open Chat podcast #podcast #news #newsstories #SouthAfrica #gaytonmckenzie #dialogue ♬ original sound – news_liveSA
Also see: Gayton McKenzie takes legal action in the wake of podcast apology for racial discrimination