'What he said is racist': John Steenhuisen slammed for hiring Roman Cabanac

John Maytham is joined by Gabriel Crouse, Executive Director at the Institute of Race Relations Legal. 

Listen below.

The political message sent by Minister John Steenhuisen's appointment of controversial podcaster Roman Cabanac is 'totally inimical' to the Democratic Alliance's basic principles.

That's according to the Institute of Race Relations' Gerald Crouse.

Cabanac has been hired as the DA leader's Chief of Staff in the Department of Agriculture.

Crouse, who has appeared on Cabanac's podcast, says he is surprised by Steenhuisen's choice.

"I rate John Steenhuisen to be the greatest liberal leader in the Rainbow Republic and I'm astonished that he made this decision. It just doesn't fit with anything that I have thought about Steenhuisen before."

- Gabriel Crouse, Executive director - Institute of Race Relations Legal

"I don't think Steenhuisen could have possibly known about all of these comments."

- Gabriel Crouse, Executive director - Institute of Race Relations Legal

Crouse claims his issue is not with Cabanac personally, but rather his political views.

"I have appeared on Cabanac's podcast. I have hung out with him socially and personally. I find him very easy to get along with. I think he's generally a nice guy... When it comes to how he interacts with people of different races, he's always struck me as someone who is perfectly respectful."

- Gabriel Crouse, Executive director - Institute of Race Relations Legal

Since news broke of Cabanac's appointment, social media users have unearthed several controversial posts written by the 'Morning Shot' host.

"He's made his political views very clear... He said Black people can't be liberals and that if the DA wants to be a liberal party, it can't be led by a Black person."

- Gabriel Crouse, Executive director - Institute of Race Relations Legal

Crouse agrees with many of Cabanac's 'controversial views' but not his racist ones.

"In my opinion, what he said [about a Black person leading the DA] is racist. It is racist to say that Bantus and Arabs are not catergorically democratic people."

- Gabriel Crouse, Executive director - Institute of Race Relations Legal

"I think anyone [within the Agriculture Department) could resonably have issue with taking orders from a chief of staff whose public comments have crossed the line..."

- Gabriel Crouse, Executive director - Institute of Race Relations Legal

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