South African newspaper The Sunday Sun must print an apology after publishing an inflammatory article by journo Jon Qwelane.
Qwelane caused a stir earlier this month after writing that while he doesn't approve of Robert Mugabe's insanity, he does appreciate the Zimbabwe President's anti-gay politics. Homo activists were not impressed and promptly organized a protest.
After hearing activist calls for media justice, press ombudsman Joe Tholoe ruled yesterday that while Qwelane didn't necessarily incite homophobic hate, he did cross the line:
There is nothing in the column that incites hatred and calls for the harming of homosexuals.Columnists are protected by the constitution for as long as their comments don't propagate war, incite imminent violence, or advocate hatred that constitutes incitement to cause harm.
Qwelane was well within the law but fell foul of the Press Code.
Yeah, real foul…
Editor
Japhy Grant Editorial Director
David Hauslaib Publisher
Jossip Initiatives
And, what's more, several years ago, Jon Qwelane won the prestigious Nat Nakasa Award in South Africa for integrity in journalism. Well, if Edinburgh University can change their statutes in order to withdraw Robert Mugabe's honorary doctorate, the organisors of this award can surely do the same.
What grates me most is that Qwelane writes such awful clunky prose, and, of course, that his ideas are dull and old.
He should warp back to apartheid South Africa. His mindset seems more at home there.
I agree with Jean (I don't often do ;-)).
See also http://www.mambaonline.com/ for more on this matter.