Muzzling the Nando’s chicken would be funny if it weren’t so serious: the ANC Youth League’s threat to mobilise — get that? — mobilise the people of South Africa to rise up against a manufacturer of spicy chicken takeaways is another worrying pointer to a near future that every true democrat must dread. Oh come on, it can’t be the 1st of April again, surely?
“Cheap satire” is how ANCYL sees a Nando’s TV commercial which, it says, mocks its president, Julius Malema. Nothing wrong with that — it’s the ANCYL’s view, it has been expressed, and it has a right to express it. And we should all be prepared to mobilise to defend the ANCYL’s right to call the Nando’s ad “cheap satire”. What is inapt in a democracy is the notion of rising up to quell that freedom.
What is about to happen to freedom of speech in South Africa? When the voices of freedom are stilled, the powerful carry on unchecked. It is the road to an authoritarian future. We need, just as we did in the darkest days of apartheid, our cartoonists, satirists and more serious political commentators to point out the potholes in the road lest our freedoms fall into them and disappear.
I wrote the following blog post yesterday and it was about to go live when I read about the ANCYL’s response to the Nando’s ad. This all follows the debacle over cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro’s lampooning of Jacob Zuma, and we have to worry: what does it all mean for the future of one of our basic freedoms, the freedom of speech? The freedom to write unpalatable things? My freedom to write what I write here, Pieter-Dirk Uys’s freedom to say what he and Evita Bezuidenhout say on stage, a TV company’s right to make fun of a politician or public figure in a TV ad, a cartoonist’s right to pillory: Here’s the blog post I had just written when this latest idiocy cropped up:
There are times when it’s OK to say ‘kaffir’
The word “kaffir” is not only offensive to black people. It offends me too. When I was a little boy, that is to say before my brain kicked in, we had in the horrible small town in which I was brought up a practice of all the white households having “house boys”, which is another term I find offensive, although I did not then.
The man who cleaned our house, did our washing and ironing, polished our floors, was a tall handsome man called Simeon. He was an Owambo, from the very far north of Namibia, and I used to behave really badly in his presence. Although I was very fond of him, the stupid, unthinking child that I was took at one point to screaming at him, calling him “kaffir” over and over again. I have no idea why. It made no sense. Nobody taught me to say that or even think it. I must have heard it somewhere — no, not from my parents, for I have no memory of them ever using the term. I cannot and do not blame my parents for it.
And Simeon would just carry on with his house work, firm of jaw and quiet of lip, with what I now recognise as dignity, but then mistook for sullen silence.
And yes, I find myself writing about my smaller self in the third person here, because I no longer associate myself with anything to do with that little boy. He has become another person, or rather, I have. Which does not mean that I can ever forgive myself.
Simeon came to us on six-month contracts, which was the way the migratory domestic labour force in that drab, soulless small diamond mining town worked. These men would work in Oranjemund for six months and then go north to spend their earnings on their wives and children, and have some months in the bosom of their families, fishing in the streams of that spectacularly beautiful northern Namibian countryside of oshanas and mighty baobabs.
Whenever the time came for Simeon to go, I would be distraught. My daylight friend was suddenly gone. The apron strings were cut, and some other Owambo man would come in his stead, and I would have to try to learn to like them as much as I loved Simeon. But I hardly remember any of the others, except for the drunken one, who almost set fire to the house while doing the ironing. I can still see my dad’s face, red with anger, and the man being sent packing, and me feeling quite sorry for him, although my dad was almost as mad at me, because that was also the day when I had found his secret stash of Cadburys milk chocolate bars in the fridge, and got stuck into them. In fact, I suspect the level of my dad’s anger at the errant domestic arsonist was influenced by my own crime.
The months went by and when the time came for Simeon to come back to us, time just carried on moving on until it became clear that he wasn’t coming back this time. I became reclusive, silent, as in my little-boy way I started to understand that my awful behaviour had brought this devastating consequence. I have understood ever since that actions have consequences, so I guess my biggest lesson was circumspection. And I learnt something about character, from Simeon.
But life teaches us all lessons, and life’s lessons know no colour, and there is another lesson that I think many of us could learn. And that is to learn the difference between common sense and idiocy. The difference between a wise, considered conclusion and a knee-jerk, inane and mindlessly politically-correct reaction.
We’re still talking about the same word that started this column, but now we’re in the present, living in a time when we all know that it is just not OK to say the word kaffir. And that if we do, we cannot and should not be allowed to get away with it.
But hold on a moment — I’ve just written the word, and in a non-offensive way, because I am saying, unequivocally: it is wrong and offensive to say it. Which is what kwaito star Arthur Mafokate did in the mid-90s with his major hit, Kaffir. For which a radio station has just been rapped over the knuckles — because they played the song.
But the song is about the fact that to say the word is wrong. The lyrics of the song slam the use of the word. The lesson, therefore, of the song, is that we should not say “kaffir” because it is so deeply insulting and hurtful. The song is therefore instructive, and helpful, and the (mainly young people) who have heard or will hear the song will hear and learn that it is wrong.
Just as my use of the word in this blog post carries the clear message that it is wrong, and gives personal anecdotal evidence of how hurtful it can be. And that its use will have consequences. If I had not used the word here, the message would be less clear.
So what’s the message then? That we must not teach our listeners, our fans, our readers that it is bad to use such words? That creative people must not use their creative tools to teach, to impart messages? That playwrights must not speak out, that songwriters should not rail against injustice, that satirists and cartoonists should not pillory to draw attention to the foolish behaviour of politicians? Where does it all start or end?
It’s mindlessly PC, frankly stupid, and, let’s be quite clear: it is undemocratic, because it denies free speech. To anybody who embraces this democratic right, it should be very worrying.
Well said sir!
You see there is a lot that u Euro lot do npot understand. If we find something offensive, we have to reject it. Period! u dont have to agree with that. Your column on its own is offensive, and I dont undestand why we should encourage you to offend us. We also dint have to be told by you not to be offended. How much more arrogant can you become. Call it PC if you like, that’s your problem.
Themba move on comrade, your words are erroneous and thinly veiled racism in itself whose your Euro huh? Never even been to Europe, in fact with your statement of ignorance I’ll vouch that I am more African than you will ever be…you’ll never get it never, keep on struggling mfwethu.
Good Post author. Mayibuye to Common Sense. Can’t wait to see the new Nandos ads
Viva Anc Viva, like a dance feva like the battle of blood riva…shaya mhlopi, burn orania!! viva Chicken Lickin!
Tony, brave of you to “come out” and admit that you were a little racist as a young boy.
As a child your use of the k-word was learned behavior. It is not encoded in your genes. The society you grew up in was a sick society.
Now don’t you think some censorship from your parents might have been a good thing so that you didn’t go around insulting others who were powerless to defend themselves? Similarly, some common sense from the media and Zapiro would have gone a long way towards avoiding placing our freedom of speech at risk.
Today in SA we enjoy UNPRECEDENTED freedom of speech. Remember, never in the history of SA has there been such freedom. Of course some of us, like Zapiro, had to spoil it with his depiction of the gang-raping portrayal Zuma and calling it brilliant satire.
“u Euro lot”, Themba? Who is this “we” you refer to – exactly whom do you presume to speak for? I find your comment offensive, sir, but I believe you have the right to make it.
I find the article, and this journalist’s column in general, to be interesting, insightful and painfully honest. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
Strangely, after reading about the ANCYL/Nando’s circus, I had exactly the same reaction: I double-checked to make sure I hadn’t just read an old article, posted on the 1st of April.
If Nando’s doesn’t withdraw the ads, which include a puppet that apparently resembles the ANCYL clown, they want to “mobilise” South Africans to take “militant action” (!) against the fast-food retailer. Militant action against a take-away chicken place? Seriously?
The very ads are an expression of intolerance for dissenting views. Most columnist have told us that Julius is an idiot just because he has dared to speak his mind. If we expect tolerance we must also show tolerance. Ridiculing people because they don’t share our thoughts and beliefs is a form of intolerance. While I understand where the Youth League comes from, I expect them to hold a moral high ground compared to the media and columnists.
Great column.
If you really meant what you said about not being able to forgive yourself: you definitely should forgive your three-year-old self. There’s nothing redemptive about carrying old guilt for something you did when you were very young, however appalling it might seem to the man you are now. Recognise it, regret it, remedy it as best you can and resolve not to repeat it — do all of that sincerely, then let it go. You and the rest of the world will be happier for it.
Oi, the likes of Themba make me relieved to be out of S.A. because, if you have a white skin there, you just cannot win. No matter what you say or how you say it – you will be verbally attacked. No matter how much you hate racism, if you’re white, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Sheesh ….
CB, stay where you are; yu are definately not missed in South Africa. Themba, i fully agree with you, it is quite arrogant for a South African of european descent to be lecturing us on why it is wronf to call people names
“Most columnists have told us that Julius is an idiot just because he has dared to speak his mind”.
He’s not an idiot *because* he spoke his mind, that’s how South Africa *knows* he’s an idiot. (He’s really earned the soubriquet Jelly Tsotsi). Of course, he doesn’t himself think it’s “daring” to free-associate in public, and in fact it isn’t, because there are plenty of adoring addle-headed supporters ready to back him all the way. Have another fizz pop.
Dave – not following your logic there. Zapiro et al are exercising their right to freedom of speech. You seem to think this is placing freedom of speech at risk – so is the govt/constitution merely allowing us freedom of speech as long as we say what it wants? if the party tune is not sung then the right is taken away?
Freedom of speech means Zapiro can express his view that Zuma et al are giving justice the royal shagging, it means that Themba in all his glorious ignorance can speak of the royal ‘we’ and dispute everything that is uttered by ‘euros’, Nando’s can poke fun at mr woodwork.
I fail to see how Zapiro has spoilt this right by exercising it. Perhaps you could enlighten me on that.
Last week, in another show of contempt for his constituents, Mr Paul Mashatile had a party on the Vaal, with 2 dozen hotel rooms and helicopter arrivals. Paid for, as always, with money originally intended for the people you see begging on street corners.
Could you please suggest some other terminology we could use to describe him?
The point is not whether or not Zapiro’s cartoon was harsh. The point is that he has and must retain the democratic freedom to express himself as a cartoonist, as one who takes the piss out of society and politics. Satire can be very harsh just as it can be very funny. Cartoons, satirical sketches, they’re there as mirrors reflecting us and our world in sometimes overdrawn, overemphasised ways. That is the point – to draw us in sharp relief, so that we see ourselves and our foibles at their worst. We need that. It makes us see ourselves more truly, warts and all. Remnove those freedoms and society no longer sees self truly. It becomes skewed, corrupt, less of itself. Let’s not lose our gains. The lessening of any democratic freedoms would mean the loss of something important to all South Africans. Every one of us deserves all of our democratic freedoms, from Zuma and Malema to you and the guy living next door to me.
As the owner of an Engineering factory I am constantly amused when a ( black) worker says ” boss, can you give me a boy to help me with this job”.This is purely a word used by blacks , I have never heard a white use that expression for the last twenty five years.
Even without the freedom of speech I can still say whatever I want to. Sure, words hurt! But if we keep taking offensive then its like those hurtful words are true. To hurt someone verbally you have to pull on an idea that makes the heart skip a beat. Truth is in the heart – so you start to question: are these expressions true?
You dont need a government with lots of complicating laws and rules to be free! Dont worry so much about “infringing on laws”. Your life is not a business, take it seriously.
@ Tony
“When the voices of freedom are stilled, the powerful carry on unchecked. It is the road to an authoritarian future. We need, just as we did in the darkest days of apartheid, our cartoonists, satirists and more serious political commentators to point out the potholes in the road lest our freedoms fall into them and disappear.”
Well said, Tony. I share your concern. Sadly, the majority of our population take every criticial statement and piece of satire as a personal insult.
Education should help people to recognize the utility of criticism and parody in a democracy where it is–at least today–protected by the Constitution. Most SA-cans have no idea, however, of what the Constitution contains, much less how clauses such as that guaranteeing freedom of speech are interpreted and construed to include the principle of a free and independent media.
When every critical comment about a politician, public figure or political party is interpreted as a personl insult by those who over-identify with their leaders. democratic debate is stifled.
The ANC/YL/Alliance all have that trait in common with Idi Amin, Robert Mugabe and his henchmen, and every dictator who ever walked the face of the earth. Intolerance of criticism is the death knell of demcracy. I think I hear bells…
@Tony and Ian
Its understandable why you want to protect Zapiro, but please ask yourself – what purpose that this “shock value” satire truly serve. Can you discuss this satire with your kids? Does it de-humanize another human being? Is this what women who have been raped want to see?
Similarly, the “machine gun song” or “kill for Zuma” also borders on hate speech, since they both encourage the use of violence to achieve political objectives.
Firstly, freedom of speech is not absolute. Its ALWAYS limited by things like “hate speech”, screaming “fire” in a movie theater etc.
Secondly, SA is still raw and hurting from the effects of apartheid. Our citizens suffer daily from violent crime. The stereotyping of “black men” as as violent and rapists cannot not be tolerated in SA anymore.
Thirdly, there are many whites that expect our nascent democracy to go from zero to 100 km/h in just 15 years. Well, freedom of speech and colorblindness etc. will take us a few generations to achieve. This cannot happen in a single generation.
Of course freedom of speech gives one the right to speak ones mind and should always remain so, but don’t you think we should exercise a little more judgment here? When is it OK to de-humanize another human being if their thoughts and ideas are different from yours? Is the depiction of black men gang-raping the only way to get his point across?
@Siobhan
“just as we did in the darkest days of apartheid, our cartoonists,…”
FACT CHECK:
We had no freedom of speech during apartheid.
Dave Harris, the counter-question to your point is: what value is there in Malema’s “Kill for Zuma” comment? Should he be silenced? Zuma for the machine gun song?
Furthermore, the cartoon was about Lady Justice. Not a woman (should Transnet staff be offended for the use of the term “Gravy train”???!? I think not). Even so, one could argue a similar point with regards to the machine gun. Who should be shot in POST-apartheid SA, especially since the death penalty has been done away with, and “people’s justice” is frowned upon?
Effectively you are suggesting it is okay for a Black guy to state he has no issues with killing people, because they are opposed to his political leader? Hmm, race based freedom of speech is born!
I am sure you are not making that argument, but that is exactly the problem. It will be seen as such (if you were to argue from the other side, you’d still land up in the same impossible position. You can’t win in debate inSA).
What do you think the effect is of overusing the race-card? It undermines the essential debates, and indeed confirms the stereotypes that racist Whites hold. It also confirms the stereotypes that racist Blacks hold.
As for the stereotyping of Black men as rapists: sadly the stereotype with regards to South Africans is justified. I don’t think one race does better than other races in this department. They are all shockingly bad.
Dave
If we are talking this particular cartoon – which i took to represent Zuma et al’s screwing of the justice system (justice historically being represented by a female). I didn’t take it as ‘black men gang raping’ in any literal way, maybe others did, but then i think they missed the point. Being a political satirist its obvious that the centre of his focus is going to be on the ruling party, as the ruling party is majority black, it stands to reason that the subjects are going to be black more often than not. If you look at the MG website – and the Zapiro cartoons, take a look at the list of names on the right – everybody is included there, equal opportunity satire..
I agree with you on points 1 & 3 that you make, however not so sure about point 2 and stereotyping (for the reason given above), but thats just my view.
From an impact point of view the cartoon makes its point a lot quicker and easier than a one page article on the demise of the justice system would.
And again, if we view it in terms of just the ruling party (which agreed is hard to do as per your points 2 & 3) and don’t think about the race aspect then is it so bad? I.e. its just the party screwing justice (not the black party, white party etc).
Nando’s has the right ridicule Malema but for heaven’s sake underatand that Malema too has the right to protest against Nando’s actions!! Why is that so hard to accept? I can it is because ypou find Malema unacceptable to you. But it is not about him; it is about evry person’s freedoms. Remember your rights stop where mine begin. So if Zapiro and Nando’s want to exercise their freedoms they must know that they will be people whose fredoms might be interfered with and who have a correspondng right to oppose them. And there is nothing unlawful about organizing an uprising against Nando’s.
Light satire:
Tony, this is Simeon, i forgive you…
Harsh satire:
Siobhan says; “Sadly, the majority of our population take every criticial statement and piece of satire as a personal insult. Education should help people to recognize the utility of criticism and parody in a democracy where it is–at least today–protected by the Constitution.”
Ergo-blacks are uneducated & dont know the constitution…
where was malema during the evita bezuidenhout ads? because, you know, those were much, much much more political than the malema as puppet ads.
let’s just call it what it is — the rapidly insulating layer of fat is doing nothing to protect
tannie juliaoom julius’s extremely thin skin. it’s like his ego is a peach or something, so easily bruised.The Benefits of a John Vorster and pre- 1994 education is that for at least one generation (40 years) the bullies keep re-emerging to ‘correct matters’/expunge memories etc.
Welcome to South Africa, Tony