The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) is at it again – this time accusing comedian Riaad Moosa of hate speech for busting some racial prejudices and using the word “coolie” in the process. It also renamed him “Riyad”. The BCCSA recently made a similar ruling against comedian John Vlismas although, in that instance, it actually got his name right.
The BCCSA seems to be unfamiliar with intent and context when it comes to its numerous rulings against comedians and the satire they produce. Instead, its judgements show it chooses to take what is said at face value, as it assumes the average radio listener does – which the average radio listener really should find offensive.
The complaint centred around a skit by Moosa that was played on 94.7 Highveld Stereo. The judgement contains the following description of the skit:
“He [Moosa] started off by referring to people from Pakistan as “Paki’s” and then compared that to the use of “coolie” and stated that, although the word was no longer used in South Africa where he comes from, people might still be referring to him as a “coolie” when he leaves their company. In fact, the audience might, afterwards, be referring to him as a funny “coolie” comedian. The audience in the insert reacted by laughing loudly at every sentence where the comedian used the word “coolie”. So, the show must have been very successful. Even when he supposedly quoted a man with a typical sophisticated English accent: “These bloody coolies, they have so many wives…completely unacceptable by Western standards, as I was saying to my mistress!” The audience roared with laughter.”
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