Phat Joe off the hook but ECR lashed

EAST Coast Radio came in for criticism but escaped sanctions following findings by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa that DJ Phat Joe did not violate the broadcasting code with his “offensive” content which angered some listeners.

At least six of the station’s listeners – who did not attend the hearing – had written to the commission to complain. Some remain unhappy and fel tthe commission missed the point of their complaint.

Their gripe centred on the allegations that Phat Joe had discussed inappropriate topics such as tattooing a baby, serial rape, and the condoning of extra-marital affairs during his drivetime show between 3pm and 6pm.

The tribunal found that the presenter’s utterances were of a ridiculous, bizarre and nonsensical nature, thereby strongly suggesting that they fell under the ambit of humour.

“The broadcaster argued that the mandate given to the presenter was to ‘shake up things’. To be edgy, controversial. In essence, he was afforded the status of being a ‘shock jock’,” said the commission.

“The content and the context in which the comments were aired are clear indicators of the non-serious thrust adopted by the presenter.”

The tribunal found no breach of the provisions of the code. The complaints were not upheld, it said.

The commissioner, however, lashed the East Coast management for its failure to deal with the issue when it was clear the topic of tattooing a baby had got out of hand. The management had shut it down 24 hours after it had started. The issue was initially meant to run for a week before being revealed as a prank.

“Management at the station ought be more circumspect and prompt in detecting on-air content that has the potential to prove problematic if left unattended to for an inordinate period.

“It is the view of the tribunal that even the 24-hour time span for the baby tattooing item was far too long. It should have been brought to an end the very same afternoon,” said the tribunal.

One of the station’s listeners, who declined to be named, said she felt the commission had missed the point and she would write to the commissioner with her objections.

Offensive

“The real issue was offensive content, bad language and sexual topics. The complaint was that people do not want to be bombarded with such content at that time of the day.

“They (the radio station) have implicitly stated that their mission is for ‘those from the black community’.

“I fail to understand how, by prioritising their young black listeners, they can justify the vulgar and offensive content of the afternoon show. It is an oxymoron,” she said.

She had since stopped listening to the drive-time show.

East Coast Radio spokeswoman Anisa Ussuph said the station welcomed the ruling.

“We are aware that incorporating a personality like Phat Joe into our line-up would generate a reaction; however, our on-air roll-out is in line with the station’s growth strategy.”

Ussuph said the radio station had engaged with some of the listeners who had con-