CASE NUMBER: 53/2004 – STEYN VS SABC RADIO – 5FM – DEROGATORY TERM

Complainant complained that the term “bonehead schools” used by the presenter of the Mark Gillman show referred to Afrikaans schools, thereby implying that all Afrikaans people are stupid (thick headed).  For the complaint to be upheld, the Tribunal would have to find that the use of the term amounted to the sanctioning, promotion or glamorization of violence against people of a particular ethnic origin,   as determined by paragraph 16.1 of the Code of Conduct.  The Tribunal did not agree that the inference that “bonehead” referred to Afrikaans people was the only one – it could also be a reference to intellectually challenged people.  Judged in context, the use of the term did not amount to a contravention of the Code and the complaint was therefore not upheld.