You’ve gotta hand it to her – Ferial Haffajee is pretty damn good at sparking nationwide debate. This time, she took to Twitter to voice her concerns over racism, after she and her City Press colleagues took part in a meeting, “to have a discussion about a genuine future, to find ways of altering our work patterns, to do wonderful journalism”. It sounds like it didn’t go all that well, judging by her tweets following the meeting…

I don’t tolerate white racists, so what makes black racists any different? Today, I drew a line in that sand. Two sides: one awful coin.

She followed that tweet up with:

So easily does the oppressed become the oppressor. Not under my watch. Sorry.

Like an oil-lamp in a room full of moths, Haffajee’s tweets attracted buckets of attention. Soon, some of the biggest moths in the biz came to see what all the hubbub was. Julius Malema got involved first:

Is it true that u charged 6 of ur journalist for questioning city press on transformation in a workshop?

Haffajee alleged in an internal letter to City Press staff that between six and eight journalists subjected her, News Editor Natasha Joseph and Deputy Editor Nicky Gules to racist remarks.

Mostly, I object to the naked racism on display yesterday.  I object to the racist mauling that Tash (news editor Natasha Joseph) and Nicki (deputy editor Nicki Gules) came in for. They are a transformative desk – the very best of the desks I have ever appointed in my editing years.

I object loudly to the racist view that only a black editor can get political stories through calls from black African politicians. For one, I am black and African and will not live under your imposed identity on me.   As to your views of our political connection, it is insulting and rubbish.  I’ve disproved that many times in my reporting life as do our colleagues almost every week when they get scoops. I don’t buy into this racism and never will.

The journalists in question have not made a statement, and are not officially suspended. Haffajee and the Human Resources department of City Press are due to meet tomorrow.

[Source : The Media Online]