Apologise, 702’s Masango told after caller insulted
The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa has ordered 702 radio presenter Aubrey Masango to apologise for “disrespectful” and “denigrating” remarks he aimed at a caller during a show in August.
The complaint related to a discussion on the Late Night Talk Show‚ hosted by Masango‚ broadcast on August 6.
The topic was land expropriation without compensation.
The complainant‚ Pieter Greyling‚ phoned in to give his view about the land question.
In Greyling’s complaint‚ he stated that Masango twisted his words to say that the Khoisan were lesser Africans.
“He called me a liar and then later said that I said the Khoisan are lesser Africans‚ which I did not say at all.
“It was difficult to put into words the frustration‚ hurt and belittling I felt during this unfair‚ humiliating discussion about me.
“I did not get the opportunity to defend myself.
“It is disgusting that a radio representative would take so much time on air to humiliate another person‚ and lying in the process‚” Greyling said.
He said Masango had not responded to WhatsApp messages he had sent him.
The complaints commission said Masango was “very emotional”‚ interrupted Greyling continuously and ended the call without affording him the opportunity to explain his statement.
“Yeah‚ he’s an idiot‚ yeah‚ but I allowed him to get to me.
“Pieter got me‚ he got me good‚ he really got me good‚ yeah he really found and got me nice in the solar plexus‚” Masango said on air in response to another caller‚ according to the commission’s judgment documents.
Masango ended the call after a few minutes‚ but continued to discuss and insult Greyling for an hour afterwards‚ without giving him a chance to reply.
The commission said Greyling should have been afforded a chance to defend himself and that the show lacked balance.
It said Masango’s remarks impaired Greyling’s dignity.
Masango repeated 57 times that Greyling was talking “utter nonsense”‚ without making an effort to explain why he was of this opinion and thereby providing an opposing view‚ the commission said.
The radio station’s manager‚ Thabisile Mbete‚ said Masango would apologise on air on Wednesday night. –