Margot Bertelsmann, News24 User
Goodness gracious! Irvin Khoza said the word "kaffir" on air!
I almost dropped my mascara driving home from work on Monday, listening to the 702 sports report about the 2010 LOC boss, aka the Iron Duke, who exhorted reporters to "stop thinking like a kaffir" when they queried his relationship with Danny Jordaan.
Adrenaline coursed through my body. My heart pounded and I felt my face flush with heat. The only time I hear "that Word" is in all-white company, when racist sentiments are being uttered. I don't hear it from a black man, who unselfconsciously uses the word, knowing he is being broadcast on radio.
It reminded me of an incident, probably ten years ago, which sticks in my mind with a similar intensity. A Jewish lesbian described herself as a "kyke dyke" at a party I attended.
I spluttered a nervous giggle on that occasion, prompting the "kd". in question to tell me that she used the term consciously, in order to "own" it and therefore rob it of its power to offend.
Removing power
I know this argument has been used by, in particular, American hip-hop artists who "own" the word "nigger" by using it often in their songs. (Kwaito star Arthur's song Kaffir can be argued to have done the same, although in his lyrics the use of the word is not encouraged - the narrator specifically tells a "baas" not to call him "kaffir" in the song.)
But this is the first time I can remember having heard the k-word used by a public figure of some stature, in a formal business setting, knowing he was being broadcast.
After my shock, I started to feel that perhaps Khoza's behaviour was going some way towards removing the word's immense power to shock, hurt and offend. After all, the more a black South African uses the word to define only what he wants it to define, perhaps the less the word will remain the property of racists, who use it to define all black people.
I am fascinated to hear how other South Africans feel about this issue.
Ed's note:
During the press conference, Khoza explained how he was incensed by reports that he and Jordaan were fighting over tenders, and that prompted him to tell a reporter to "stop thinking like a kaffir because you are misconstruing something that is not there".
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Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.