Johannesburg - Listeners in Joburg appeared to be split about whether Redi Tlhabi acted professionally in her response to the spokesman for the Department of Sport and Recreation’s call to her morning show on Wednesday.
Esethu Hasane called in to Tlhabi’s show to complain about comments she had made on Tuesday about anti-intellectualism in the government.
Hasane said he was calling in because Tlhabi had not responded to his tweet querying her statements, and said he felt she was abusing her platform and was out of line.
He didn't like that she said “the dumber, the better” to a caller who wanted to know why the government doesn't consult with intellectuals like former president Thabo Mbeki when making decisions.
Hasane said: “That was very offensive to me as a young person who just recently graduated and came to work for the government. I don't think the government I work for is anti-intellectual. There are many people who are brilliant at what they do, who were appointed by the president. I don’t know if you think the president is dumb or if the ministers he appoints are dumb, but I thought that was out of line.”
Tlhabi, after asking if he was finished, first said she wasn't obligated to respond to tweets as she didn't always have the time, and refused to apologise for that. She added that she didn't know why Hasane was perturbed because he was in the leadership.
She pointed out that President Jacob Zuma’s previous negative statements about “clever blacks” were an example of anti-intellectualism and she referred to comments he made last month while speaking in Mpumalanga.
Zuma said at the time: “(Don’t) pay attention to people who talk too much on television. The educated people who think they are clever.”
Tlhabi continued: “That, to me, coming from the leader of government, does not tell me that he has a high regard for intellectual vigour.
“I feel very sorry for you if your only tool to discernment and interpretation is what people literally mean... You talk about discernment. Discernment means you look at tonality. You look at subtext and if I'm discouraging you from listening to people who are asking questions, then I'm saying that I'm the kind of person who doesn't welcome that kind of thing, and that's my interpretation.”
Hasane then tried to get her to clarify her “dumber the better” statement, to which she said: “I don’t have to because I’ve made a comment. And you wanted me to give an explanation because you needed an explanation. I speak because I take it that we are all equals.
“I didn't see the need to elaborate, and say so and so is intellectual, and so and so is dumb, so I didn't think I needed to explain something that is so obvious.
“But in future I will take it that there are people like you that need things to be explained to you.”
Tlhabi trended all day on Twitter, with listeners sharing how they felt about the exchange.
Former DA leader and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille said: “@Esethu-Hasane I see Redi thinks you have self-esteem issues! Yoh! You are having a tough time at the moment. I’m your last remaining pal.”
Activist Zackie Achmat cheered Tlhabi on, saying: “Redi, great response. I would be happy to supply a list of #ANC leaders who refuse to inform themselves of politics.”
The Star