Kuli Roberts is not sorry for what she wrote in her Sunday column, Bitches Brew, because “those were my experiences” – only the way it was published.
Just ahead of International Women’s Day, the tabloid journalist became the most despised woman in the country this week for her controversial column about coloured women titled “Jou ma se kinders”, but she’s received support from an unlikely source, sushi king Kenny Kunene.
Speaking to the Saturday Star a day before she publicly apologised on her DStv show, Roberts admitted that the article had not been written very well, but it should have been checked before it went to print.
“It could have been written better. But that’s why I have editors. It should have been checked.”
Roberts said she was merely reflecting her own experiences of growing up in Cape Town among coloured people.
“I can only write about my own experiences. Those weren’t other people’s experiences, they were mine. I’m not sorry for what I wrote, but I am sorry for how it was perceived. I am sorry that it offended so many people. And by the way, the column was about Cape coloureds specifically, not coloureds in general,” she said.
On Thursday night, Roberts again apologised on her Mzansi Magic show Headline.
“I’d like to say to everybody who was offended by my column, I’m really, really sorry,” Roberts said.
She admitted that the Sunday World column had been an attempt at humour.” Sometimes I think I’m funny when I’m actually not. I’d really like to apologise to everybody — I messed up.” But she was adamant about one thing: “I’m not a racist. I’m all about nation-building.”
The now-notorious columnist was crucified by the media, on social networks and even by politicians. Even the Human Rights Commission is investigating a complaint
All this has forced Avusa’s management to scrap Bitches Brew this week.
Sunday World editor Wally Mbhele acknowledged the outcry over the column and agreed it made derogatory generalisations about coloured people which were in clear violation of the SA Press Code and Avusa Media’s internal codes.
Mbhele said he took full responsibility “for the offending column appearing in my newspaper”.
“While I recognise the right of columnists to express their opinions without fear or favour, these should not amount to prejudice.
“This column showed clear prejudice against a section of South African society. For this I unreservedly apologise to South African society and to Sunday World readers.”
Avusa Media Editor-in-chief Mondli Makhanya said the company had begun an internal inquiry into the matter.
“As a leading media company and a responsible corporate citizen, Avusa Media will not allow any of its titles to disseminate prejudicial commentary that reinforces divisions and entrenches racial stereotypes,” said Makhanya.
But although Roberts was attacked from all angles this week, she still has the support of friends and family – and even a businessman.
Joburg tycoon Kunene asked South Africans to get over it.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Kunene said: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
“Roberts made a mistake, like we all do,” Kunene said, and publicly apologised for it.
“Hands off Kuli, she apologised, she deserves forgiveness, and this witch-hunt has to STOP now,” he added.