Louis Liebenberg must be held accountable

18 October 2022

Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Veronica van Dyk MP.

Reports in two Sunday newspapers suggest that Louis Liebenberg, benefactor to former president Jacob Zuma, used racist language in leaked audio clips.

In 2020 when a video clip of Liebenberg imitating "Cyril" (Ramaphosa), speaking crudely and inferring that being black gives you a license to be corrupt, emerged, the DA reported Liebenberg to the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC).

However, the HRC ruled that the complaint did not meet the hate speech threshold and was therefore rejected in terms of section 10(1) of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act.

Following the revelation of newly leaked audio where Liebenberg allegedly was recorded using crude, racist language, the DA will lay a complaint with the Equality Court to ensure that he is held to account for his despicable utterances.

The DA strongly condemns any form of discrimination, including racism, which has no place in our society.

Issued by Veronica van Dyk, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, 18 October 2022