The civil rights organisation AfriForum today declared a dispute with MultiChoice because of the inconsistent application of this television company\u2019s political policy. This follows after MultiChoice\u2019s announcement that their policy was not to give exposure to persons making divisive statements, but this policy has been applied only with regard to one individual.<\/p>\n
MultiChoice recently announced that they were going to apply censorship with regard to the artist Steve Hofmeyr by not publishing any footage of him, but no action has been taken against other artists who actively encourage violence and racial hatred against minorities on social media. AfriForum also demands that MultiChoice should summarily stop all sponsorships for organisations and parties \u2013 including the ANC \u2013 whose representatives make divisive statements.<\/p>\n
The artist Ntsiki Mazwai regularly publishes racist and inciting comments against minorities on social media, yet he was recently appointed as presenter of the chat programme\u00a0Show me Love<\/em>, which is broadcast on Moja Love (channel 157 on DStv).<\/p>\n Ernst Roets, deputy chief executive of AfriForum, said MultiChoice was fully entitled to follow a political policy, but customers also had the right in such a case to insist on the policy being applied consistently.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Hofmeyr is banned from all platforms because his statements are divisive, but people like Mazwai are rewarded by being appointed as presenters, this indicates that MultiChoice does not really pursue unity but simply exercises double standards.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Roets also said the consistent application of MultiChoice\u2019s policy would mean that the company would not be involved in any further sponsorships of political parties making divisive statements. This includes the ANC. In this regard Roets referred to deputy president David Mabuza\u2019s threat that there would be a violent take-over if white people do not voluntarily give their property to black people, and also the allegation by the ANC secretary-general, Ace Magashule, that white people were the descendants of colonists who stole \u201cour\u201d (black people\u2019s) wealth.<\/p>\n AfriForum therefore has declared a dispute with MultiChoice and demands in terms of the dispute that the company\u2019s political policy be either revised or applied consistently.<\/p>\n Joe Heshu, MultiChoice chief executive for corporate matters, said in a statement that MultiChoice was committed to building a non-racial society and strongly condemned any acts of discrimination.<\/p>\n \u201cIt appears from their own actions that this certainly is not the case and that MultiChoice simply wants to apply censorship with inconsistent action,\u201d Roets said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n MultiChoice is a regular sponsor for the ANC\u2019s Progressive Business Forum\u2019s events, and in February this year they also sponsored the EFF\u2019s gala dinner.<\/p>\n AfriForum encourages members of the public to add their voices to the dispute with MultiChoice by visiting the website\u00a0www.multichoicedispute.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n