Reuters
A RACE ROW has broken out among South African journalists over a “blacks only” briefing given by ruling party leader Jacob Zuma – and the country’s Human Rights Commission has sided with excluded white reporters.
It began when the Forum for Black Journalists (FBJ) hosted an off-the-record briefing in February by Zuma, the African National Congress President, who is expected to succeed Thabo Mbeke as the country’s president next year. Three white journalists tried to get into the meeting at the five-star Intercontinental Sandton Sun hotel in Johannesburg but were turned away on the basis of their skin colour.
Other media organisations and civil rights groups voiced concern, and a complaint was lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) by Katy Katopodis, news editor of Talk Radio 702 and 94.7 Highveld Stereo, two of whose reporters had been barred (the other was from e.tv. “Surely South Africa is beyond such blatant displays of racism,” she asked the commission.
In finding against the black journalists’ group, the Human Rights Commission declared that “the policy by the FBJ of restricting its membership on the basis of race would not pass constitutional muster.” It urged the FBJ to amend its rules so as not to exclude anyone on the basis of race.
“Judicial ambush”
The FBJ, first launched 11 years ago, was incensed. Its chairman, Abbey Makoe, political editor of the national broadcaster SABC, called it a “judicial ambush” and said the commission had a dubious understanding of racism in this case. Historically, black journalists had been disadvantaged and sidelined - now they needed a forum to discuss their issues separately.
“SAHRC has found us guilty of being black,” Makoe said. “No banning order will stop us.” Zuma himself, who has accused the media of biased reporting of the ongoing corruption case against him, told reporters at the briefing that he saw nothing wrong with their exclusionary policy, but it was up to them.
Jody Kollapen, head of the SAHRC, said it recognised the FBJ’s right to exist, and was backed in this by Radio 702’s Katopodis. “We have absolutely no qualm” with the formation of the FBJ, Katopodis said, but it had to transform and move forward. “We’d like to all work together for the advancement of journalism, irrespective of race.”
A commentary in The Sowetan newspaper by freelance writer Oupa Ngwenya, secretary-general of the Forum for Black Journalists, said the FBJ had been “cunningly outfoxed by the racist tag that has become a standard accusation to all black initiatives.” It went on:
“With the black community sinking deeper into hopelessness, the rising tide of political correctness has evidently usurped the centre stage to push all else that is black to a questionable periphery that is out of sync with the new South Africa.”
Ngwenya added that “articulation of black aspirations” was being “forever stalked and vetoed by unfounded white fears.”
Professors have their say
Academics have also weighed into the debate. At the University of Johannesburg, Professor Adam Habib said he was bothered by racially structured organisations like the FBJ; they posed the question “whether, 14 years into democracy such structures are really necessary.”
Guy Berger, another media analyst, who heads the journalism department at Rhodes University, wrote in the Mail & Guardian: “The Forum of Black Journalists is welcome to choose whoever it likes to attend its meetings. Black, white or blue. It’s a free country. But no journalists, of whatever hue, should be in the business of organising off-the-record briefings with political leaders...
“Why would any journalist act to encourage secret information flows as a first-choice engagement with a source? Especially in regard to a public politician who may be the next South African president.”
Well-known media analyst Anton Harber, Professor of Journalism at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, wrote in a column in Business Day newspaper that the most notable thing was the very fact that by its actions the FBJ had prompted such an outcry. “There is something in the air that allows people, black and white, to say for the first time: this is ridiculous. These people do not speak for us.”
Harber asked: “What kind of person is it that will stand at the door of a public event and say to their colleagues and associates: ‘Turn around and go away because you are white’? That is not a person... who can feel good about thir contribution to the new S.A.
“What kind of journalist will take umbrage and say their colleagues are disrespectful when they come to a meeting they have not been invited to? This is not a person who understands the first thing about journalism. That is what we do: we knock on doors which are closed, we try to find out what is going on behind them. What kind of reporters would we be if we were interested only in meetings to which we had a formal invitation?...
“If Zuma was really smart, he would have waived the off-the-record provision and invited all journalists in. He would have won respect and looked like a true national leader, rather than a tawdry politician trying to cosy up to journalists and avoiding difficult moral issues.”
Ido Lekota, political editor of The Sowetan, retorted: “It was made clear that white journalists were not invited. Is there anything wrong for victims of apartheid, 14 years down the line, to caucus?”
Sacked for racism
In a separate development, outspoken commentator David Bullard was sacked by his editor at the Sunday Times for writing a “racist column” detailing how South Africa has supposedly benefited from colonialism.
Editor Mondli Makhanya the piece had overstepped the mark and “went against the values of this newspaper.”
Makhanya added: “It was clear he believes blacks to be indolent savages.” The Sunday Times respected its readers and although its mission was to provoke, challenge and entertain, it would not insult or abuse them.
Bullard himself published a “sincere and heartfelt” apology in Business Day - but later said he would sue the Sunday Times over the summary manner of his dismissal.
PJM April 2008