By Lebogang Matolong
The recent uproar over offensive remarks made by young people on Open Chat has sparked a national conversation — but not the one South Africa truly needed. Instead of seizing this as a teachable moment to unpack misinformation, challenge ignorance, and dismantle long-standing stereotypes, the incident has
devolved into a theatre of political grandstanding. Figures like Gayton McKenzie have seized the opportunity to stoke outrage, score political points, and entrench division, rather than foster understanding.
The remarks in question — that coloured people are “crazy” or that they “sleep with their cousins” — were undeniably foolish, uninformed, and hurtful. But they did not emerge from a vacuum; they are echoes of old, lazy stereotypes passed down through casual prejudice and unexamined hearsay. These are not new ideas —
they are inherited misconceptions dressed up in modern language, still carrying the same sting they always have.
Just as it is dangerous and deeply unjust to stereotype all black people as criminals or suspects, it is equally harmful to generalise any other community based on half-truths, myths, or isolated experiences. Such remarks chip away at the social fabric, creating suspicion where there should be solidarity.
South Africa’s history is already marked by decades of state-sanctioned division. The danger of moments like this is that they revive that old thinking — not by law, but by culture and conversation. What should have been an opportunity to lean into dialogue, to educate young people about the historical roots and the lived
experience and impact of such stereotypes, has instead become a public flogging designed for clicks and political mileage.
The real tragedy is not only in the ignorance of the original comments, but in our collective failure to use this moment to build bridges. When outrage replaces education, the cycle repeats — louder, angrier, and with fewer people willing to listen.
Stereotypes Have History
Stereotypes aren’t born overnight. Many are rooted in apartheid and colonial propaganda, deliberately crafted to divide.
• The “dysfunctional coloured community” myth was used to fracture unity.
• The “criminal black man” trope justified over-policing and discrimination.
• “Jokes” often mask deep wounds from historical injustices.
When we ignore these origins, we give historical lies a fresh coat of paint and let them stroll into our conversations disguised as “harmless banter.” It’s as if centuries of prejudice suddenly get a free pass because someone said it with a laugh or a wink — as though ignorance becomes wisdom simply by changing the tone.
The Cost of Stereotypes
• Limit Opportunities – Bias can cost someone a job, scholarship, or leadership
role.
• Strain Trust – Communities become suspicious of one another.
• Shape Identity – Young people internalise these narratives, damaging self
worth.
Stereotypes feed a vicious cycle: prejudice shapes perception, perception influences behaviour, and that behaviour is then paraded as “proof” of the very prejudice that birthed it. Left unchecked, this loop doesn’t just linger — it calcifies, embedding itself so deeply that it can survive and poison relationships for
generations.
The Missed Opportunity
Instead of turning ignorance into education, we went straight to outrage. The people didn’t need a free pass, but they needed correction, not crucifixion. Outrage is performative; education is transformative.
A Better Way Forward
We must replace knee-jerk outrage with intentional dialogue:
• Correct misinformation in real time.
• Create safe spaces for discussion without humiliation.
• Teach the historical weight of stereotypes.
If we choose outrage over education, we miss the rare chance to replaceignorance with understanding — and in that void, division always wins. Politicians know this, and some are all too eager to exploit it, trading our social cohesion for a quick headline or a spike in popularity. Every time we let them turn ignorance into
ammunition, they score points while the rest of us lose ground.
� Did You Know?
• “Please Call Me” wasn’t the first tech idea in SA stolen from a worker — but
it’s the most famous case.
• Coloured and black communities were deliberately pitted against each
other under apartheid to prevent unity.
• Many everyday “jokes” are rooted in propaganda campaigns from the
1950s and 60s.
So the next time someone shrugs and says, “Relax, it’s just a joke,” remember: propaganda loves a good punchline — especially when it can still land decadeslater. The real question is, are we laughing with history, or letting it laugh at us?
About the Author
Lebogang Matolong is a radio practitioner, broadcaster, and community media
advocate with a deep commitment to dialogue, social cohesion, and dismantling
harmful stereotypes. Having worked extensively in community media, I believe in
using conversation as a tool for change rather than conflict.
Lebogang Matolong – (Written in my personal capacity)
