By Beauregard Tromp and Sapa
The Forum of Black Journalists (FBJ) has told the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) that black reporters have the right to form an exclusive organisation that can determine its own path forward.
The hearing on Wednesday comes after Talk Radio 702 lodged a complaint with the SAHRC after one of its white journalists was barred from attending the relaunch of the FBJ.
Separately, Yusuf Abramjee, group head of news and talk programming for Primedia Broadcasting, which owns 702, and talk show host Kieno Kammies have also complained to the commission after being referred to as "coconuts" by veteran journalist John Qwelane.
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Qwelane was unapologetic about calling Abramjee a "coconut", defining the term as someone who aspires to be white while denying their blackness.
In explaining the need for the FBJ to remain racially exclusive, Qwelane said: "We need to discuss these things by ourselves and find solutions by ourselves without asking madam or baas."
The FBJ's relaunch on February 22 was marred by controversy after white journalists who had arrived to hear ANC president Jacob Zuma speak were asked to leave.
Once the organisers made it clear the function was only open to black journalists, a few white journalists showed up at the event to test the waters.
The FBJ said it defined the term "black" under the principles of Black Consciousness, which - it claimed - included all previously disadvantaged people.
Being "black", FBJ interim chairperson Abbey Makoe said, was a "very cerebral thing" - it was not necessarily the colour of a person's skin, but their state of mind.
He believed this included Indian, coloured and African people "minus the coconuts".
"Should membership of an organisation like the FBJ be open to all people seeking to advance the objectives of the organisation or should it be determined simply on race?" asked SAHRC chairperson Jody Kollapen.
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