03-07-2025
NCC MP Fadiel Adams faces consequences for sexist and racist remarks
National Coloured Congress (NCC) leader Fadiel Adams.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
National Coloured Congress (NCC) MP Fadiel Adams has been found guilty of breaching Parliament's Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members' Interests following a nine-minute Facebook video in which he used crude, sexist, and racially charged language.
The Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests tabled its report to Parliament, recommending Adams be reprimanded, suspended for 15 sitting days, and that his salary be docked for the same period.
He is also ordered to issue a public apology and attend a consultation on ethical conduct.
The complaint was lodged by Democratic Alliance Chief Whip George Michalakis and submitted to the Office of the Registrar of Members' Interests on March 5, 2025.
The complaint relates to a nine-minute video Adams posted on February 18, 2025, where he made a series of offensive remarks directed at a female member of the Democratic Alliance, the mayor of Cape Town, and the DA as a party.
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According to the complaint, Adams used explicit and offensive terms referring to race, gender, sexual conduct, and political affiliation.
In addition to personal attacks, he made inflammatory allegations and threats directed at a woman's employer, at the mayor's children, and the City of Cape Town leadership.
In the report, the complainant stated that the content of the social media post is as follows: 'ek weet nie wat makeer sekere coloured mense nie (I don't know what is wrong with some coloured people)', and 'some of us are so desperate to fit white sexual reproduction organs into our mouths … the Mackenzie family has been practising it for years'.
He then refers to an individual as a 'ding' (thing) and 'the Right-Wing love coloureds that are a fit to work in the kitchen but think they can make their way into the office by sucking white genitalia'. He then also calls her a 'coloured mother's p**s', 'naai', 'h***me!d', 'vuil ma se p**s (and if you do not excuse my language, f**k you sommer)', 'smetterige vark (pig)', 'coloured mother f**k', 'this mother n**i' and says that she is so desperate for a white man's recognition.
He then continues: 'I don't care if you are a woman, because you're not a woman as far as I am concerned because a mother doesn't do this' and 'I don't give a p**s, I am not gender biased, jou vuil n**i (you dirty f**k)'.
With regards to members of the DA as 'f**ng agents', he refers to the mayor of Cape Town as a 'piece of sh*t', 'wit god' and to 'his f**ng kids'. He then falsely accuses the mayor and the city of murder and fuelling violence.
He furthermore threatens the female individual that he will approach her employer ('there will be consequences at your workplace') and tell them that 'you're employing a piece of sh*t' and then goes further to threaten the employer himself, stating that if she does not remove a Facebook post that 'your boss will not trade for a day or two', threatening to ignore a High Court order against him for closing business because 'some things are worth going to jail for'.
The complainant also stated that Adams is in breach of items 5(1) and 9 of the Code.
Also, if the complainant's conduct falls foul of the provisions of the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crime and Hate Speech Act, the member could be in breach of his oath of office.
He also indicated that he was willing to ignore a High Court order in pursuit of what he termed justice.
Adams did not dispute the content of the video or that he was the individual who made the remarks.
The committee reviewed footage that was taken from his Facebook page before it was removed and confirmed that the statements were made as described.
In his written response submitted on March 13, 2025, he offered an apology for the outburst and cited personal circumstances as a contributing factor.
He said he had been under considerable stress linked to threats to his children's safety and family-related trauma.
He argued that the post was a reaction to a Facebook post made by a DA member, which, in his view, had placed his children in danger by suggesting gang affiliations.
The committee acknowledged Adams' account of personal stress, but maintained that it did not excuse the severity or public nature of the language used.
It expressed concern about the particularly vulgar, sexist, and racist nature of the remarks, especially those directed at a woman, and stated that "the member brought Parliament into disrepute".
The committee found that the Member had breached items 9(1) and 9(2) of the Code of Ethical Conduct, as outlined under item 16(1)(c). These provisions prohibit members from using racist, sexist, or derogatory language on social media and from bringing Parliament into disrepute through such conduct.
It further noted that members are expected to uphold the integrity of Parliament and act in a manner that promotes public confidence in the institution.
Although the member was informed of the breach and invited to submit written representations regarding a possible penalty, no such representation was received.
The committee has recommended that Adams be formally reprimanded in the House. He should issue an apology in the National Assembly, to the public, and to the woman referred to in the Facebook video for the use of racist, sexist, and vulgar language.
It further recommended that he be suspended from participating in debates and committees for 15 sitting days.
His salary and allowances should be reduced by an amount equal to the same period.
The member is also expected to attend a consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Co-Chairpersons of the Committee, and the Acting Registrar to discuss the ethical conduct required of MPs.
