Tumi Morake ‘did not incite racial hate’

Tumi Morake likened proponents of apartheid to playground bullies.


Jacaranda FM presenter Tumi Morake and her co-presenter, Martin Bester, have been warned by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) to tread carefully when discussing racially sensitive topics.

Morake was accused of hate speech in September after she compared proponents of apartheid to bullies on a playground during a broadcast.

Her views were met with outrage from the Afrikaner community.

Read more: Jacaranda FM backs Tumi Morake, praises her for her attitude

Many took to social media, suggesting Morake encouraged hate towards them and that her words were hurtful and racist.

The topic was about Afrikaner musician Steve Hofmeyr, who believes white Afrikaners are victims of post-apartheid hatred and racism.

Morake insisted that reconciliation in South Africa was unfair as black South Africans were expected to move on without meaningful retribution.

“… It’s like a child whose bicycle was taken forcefully away from him and then you say to the bully, ‘no, no, no share the bike together. Don’t be like that’. Then the kid whose bike was taken doesn’t feel like there’s been retribution, because the bully hasn’t been punished and on top of that, the bully is still being rewarded because he still gets to share the bike…”

The complainants argued that Morake’s statement amounted to hate speech because they echoed the call made by the EFF for the expropriation of white-owned land without compensation.

The BCCSA dismissed the complaints, saying the presenters did not violate the Broadcasting Act and their comments did not incite violence or hatred against a race or ethnic group.

But the tribunal warned radio presenters to be mindful of the possible consequences when discussing sensitive matters.

– simnikiweh@citizen.co.za

Tumi Morake and how we aren’t facing the uncomfortable head-on

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.

Read more on these topics

Tumi Morake

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.

For more news your way

Download The Citizen App for IOS and Android