Cape Forum condemns ‘racist’ and ‘offensive’ podcast on Coloured people

Civil society organisation Cape Forum is deeply disgusted and outraged by the vile and degrading comments recently aired on the Open Chats Podcast. In the particular episode, four young Black African presenters referred to the Coloured community as being incestuous and “crazy”, alleging that Coloured people “sleep with their siblings”.

Cape Forum is of the view that these statements are not only factually false and blatantly offensive, but that they are also a direct attack on the dignity and humanity of the Coloured people, who are descendants of the First Nations of South Africa. “This type of rhetoric fuels and perpetuates damaging stereotypes that continue to marginalise Coloured communities,” says Heindrich Wyngaard, Cape Forum’s Executive Chairperson.

Cape Forum has taken note of the supposed “apology” issued by the Open Chats Podcast team, but we reject it as being inadequate since it serves more as an explanation of the wrongdoing rather than displaying sincere regrets.

Wyngaard says: “A generic note of regret after such a serious and defamatory incident cannot be seen as sincere accountability. There is no direct admission of wrongdoing, nor any meaningful commitment to reparative action.”

Cape Forum believes that the so-called apology serves more to promote a follow-up episode in which the topic of the previous one would apparently be handled with more sensitivity. “Words without consequence mean little to communities who are constantly ridiculed and dehumanised,” says Wyngaard.

He says Cape Forum, as an organisation focussing on community building predominantly in Coloured communities, will request the South African Human Rights Commission to urgently investigate the matter. Furthermore, Cape Forum demands that the Open Chats Podcast team publicly support and actively promote a reconciliation and education initiative, aimed at uplifting Coloured communities.

“We demand action,” says Wyngaard. “And as Cape Forum we will continue to fight for the dignity, respect, and constitutional rights of marginalised people – not just in words, but through action.”