Roman Cabanac, a controversial podcaster and conservative activist, has been named Chief of Staff in Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s office, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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This appointment comes on the heels of the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) recent controversy involving Renaldo Gouws, another prominent YouTuber and podcaster who was recently named a Member of Parliament.
Gouws, who is under investigation by the DA following the emergence of racist language in his videos, remains a Member of Parliament despite his suspension from party activities. Cabanac, known for his podcast Morning Shot and his failed political bid with the Capitalist Party of SA in 2019, was personally approached by Steenhuisen for the role.
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Cabanac said that he was ‘very comfortable with the appointment’ and expressed indifference towards criticism from ‘woke’ individuals, stating, ‘Fortunately, there are not many woke people at the department of agriculture as we are here to work.’
He believes his extensive experience with large teams in both the private and non-profit sectors makes him well-suited for the position. Cabanac mentioned that he did not have a personal relationship with Steenhuisen prior to the appointment but had interacted with him during interviews on Morning Shot. He also collaborated with Helen Zille on podcasts.
Cabanac has a history of controversy, especially on X, and has faced criticism for his political views. He gained notoriety as a co-host of The Renegade Report, where he sparked outrage among Jewish communities by interviewing individuals with extremist views.
Nechama Brodie, a journalist, criticised Cabanac in 2019 for allowing racist and anti-Semitic remarks without challenge. Cabanac defended himself by stating he participated in debates but did not share the views of his guests.
In a February interview with Gareth Cliff on CliffCentral, Cabanac expressed his disdain for South African politics, saying, ‘All political parties are just moronic, we no longer have a state. It doesn’t matter who takes over. John Steenhuisen and Helen Zille can run this country as a theocracy for 10 years, it doesn’t matter. There is no army, there are no borders, there is no police. What are they going to do? Fix a few potholes?’
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Picture: Roman Cabanac / X
