SABC, Dube in hot water

2003-02-19 15:20

Cape Town - National Assembly Deputy Speaker Baleka Mbete on Tuesday censured the SABC for failing to take strong action against comedian Desmond Dube for ethnic remarks he made on his show about two weeks ago.

Speaking during a debate on President Thabo Mbeki's state of the nation address, she said the "need for sensitivity in matters of language cannot be over-emphasised".

"It is therefore extremely disappointing to come across incidents like what happened in the Desmond Dube show two weeks ago."

The type of joke which "entrenches degradation of particular groups that belongs to the past" should be condemned in the strongest terms, Mbete said.

Inadequate

The question arose whether the SABC, as the public broadcaster, had come out clearly on a policy to handle such behaviour.

"An apology is not enough. It is inadequate."

The SABC should come out clearly and condemn Dube's behaviour.

"We are called upon to make it abundantly clear that people who think it is a joke to make such remarks over SABC TV must not be tolerated as role models to help this nation we are delicately putting together," she said.

The incident occurred when Dube compared Shangaans to baboons during his show, unleashing a flood of outrage from XiTsonga speakers, who accused him of creating ethnic hatred.

A voiceover apology was made at the end of a subsequent edition of his show, but Dube reportedly defended his joke during a radio interview the next day.

- SAPA