The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has announced that it will take legal action against music executive Nhlamulo ‘Nota’ Baloyi for alleged hate speech.
SAHRC hauls Nota to Equality Court over ‘white people’ comments
The case stems from comments Nota made during a Monday, 17 February 2025, episode of The Hustlers Corner SA, a YouTube podcast hosted by DJ Sbu, where he described white people as an “inferior species.”
Following the podcast’s release, the SAHRC initiated its own investigation and received multiple complaints from the public.
The commission determined that Nota’s remarks violated the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, arguing that they met the legal definition of hate speech.
In its statement, the SAHRC outlined the legal actions it plans to pursue against Nota, which include demands for a public apology, diversity and sensitivity training, community service, and a possible monetary fine.
The commission also noted that complainants seeking criminal charges could open a crimen injuria case with the South African police.
Meanwhile, DJ Sbu, the host of The Hustlers Corner SA who recently announced his resignation from Radio 2000, has distanced himself from Nota’s comments, stating that his platform does not endorse the views expressed by its guests.
He acknowledged the backlash the podcast has received but made it clear that the show serves as an educational platform and does not take responsibility for individual guest opinions.
Nota triples down on controversial claims about white people
Despite facing legal action, Nota has continued to defend his remarks.
Speaking again on The Hustlers Corner SA on Monday, 24 February 2025, he insisted that his statements were based on facts.
“Everything I said is based on facts. If you don’t believe me, you’re gonna ask Grok—Elon Musk gave it to you for free. He saw the whole entire thing, he pondered about it, he didn’t reject what I said, he said ‘hmm’,” Nota said.
Clips of the interview have been widely shared on social media, sparking national and international debate.
The controversy escalated further when billionaire Elon Musk retweeted one of the clips, though he did not explicitly comment on Nota’s claims.
The SAHRC has maintained that hate speech laws exist to prevent discrimination and societal harm, arguing that Nota’s remarks contribute to racial divisions.
However, Nota remains firm in his position, showing no signs of retracting his statements.