Pierce's 'racist' comments
2003-08-11 17:05
Johannesburg - Democratic Alliance spokesperson on sport and recreation Donald Lee said on Monday that Cape Talk presenter Nigel Pierce's comments about "thick Dutchmen" in the South African rugby team deserve the strongest possible condemnation.
"His negative stereotyping of Afrikaners is nothing short of racist," said Lee.
"Whether or not one agrees with every selection the Springbok coach makes, to suggest that he favours Afrikaners over other players is simply ridiculous.
"Sport has the tremendous potential to unite South Africans. Pierce, it would appear, would rather use it to divide us.
"Of course, Mr Pierce is operating under the influence of the ANC. As a coloured South African, I was described as a coconut by sports minister Ngconde Balfour, and Pierce has obviously fallen victim to similar racist feelings.
"The sooner South Africans move away from racial stereotyping and towards acceptance that we're all part of the rainbow nation, the better.
"This notwithstanding, it is pointless to go running to the Human Rights Commission every time someone says something nasty. As reprehensible as Mr Pierce's comments were, the Human Rights Commission and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission are not there to censor free speech."
- SAPA