No room for spin on offensive terms

VICKI Momberg acquiring historic notoriety by becoming the first South African to be jailed for using the offensive “K-word” reminded me of a number of cases involving racist terms against all communities I was involved in at the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) during my time at the SABC, including the “C-word” for Indians.

I reflected on some of these in my book 35 Years at the SABC.

Language often became an issue at BCCSA hearings, especially when it related to the uniquely South African racially derogatory terms used by one group against another, whether it was the use for Afrikaners, Indians, for the coloured community, or the outlawed “K-word” for Blacks.

Even “Chinaman” was once deemed offensive to the Chinese never be done on air, no matter their argument that the recipient of their reference was not offended by it. It might have been fine for her in a social context, but definitely not on air.

Another black Metro FM presenter who used the word was not only forced to apologise on air but was also sent to attend a course at the Human Rights Commission. This seemed to be a successful disciplinary step because the presenter thereafter lectured to his colleagues and listeners on racism.

In two instances, even passing remarks by sports presenters generated complaints of racism.

The first was when a commentator, referring to runners who were going through the predominantly coloured township of Riverlea in Joburg, called it the township where “AmaBoesman” live.

The tribunal found that although the use of the term did not amount to hate speech, it was so offensive to and derogatory of coloured people as a group, that it constituted a contravention of the code.

The term “Chinaman” was used by an independent sports commentator on the BBC World service in the second case. The presenter was referring to the fact that a person from China had won an international tournament for the first time. The BBC insert was fed to the SABC, which broadcast it directly.

It was held by the tribunal that although the term amounted to hate speech, it would be utterly unfair to hold the SABC responsible for this contravention because of the live feed situation.

The BBC was alerted to this, and also undertook to be more cautious in future.

The issue raised all sorts of complications on whether, for example, the term “Chinaman”, often used in cricket to describe an unorthodox left-arm spin, could also be considered offensive.

Of course, these derogatory terms emerged only in South Africa in the apartheid era, so imagine my surprise when, during my first visit to India more than three decades ago, while preparing to disembark a train at a Delhi railway station, I found a dozen red-shirted men rushing to my window screaming “Coolie! Coolie!”

I had come all the way from South Africa, where I had encountered this term many times as a derogatory one, and here were many men of my own indigenous origin doing the same to me!

I quickly learnt though that they were referring to themselves, as they were the organised porters at railway stations in India whose profession was to carry other people’s luggage on their heads!

And there was no Indian taking offence at the use of the term!