A presenter on a radio breakfast show made scathing remarks against the Sri Lankan Cricket Team. The latter team had drawn with the SA team the previous day, thereby excluding the SA team from further participation in the World Series, which was being hosted by South Africa. The presenter was critical of what he regarded as unsporting behaviour by the visiting team.
The BCCSA held that:
(1) Although it was argued that the remarks were not intended to hurt, and formed part of a series of comments on other teams, this intention was not borne out by the remarks themselves. Ethically, the remarks were offensive and the apologies extended by the Respondent were most appropriate. Internal disciplinary action for such conduct was also appropriate.
(2) The remarks did not, however, amount to hate speech as set out in section 16(2)(c) of the Constitution and clause 7 of the Broadcasting Code. The Constitution and the Code only prohibit the advocacy of hatred based on race, ethnicity, gender and religion. The attack was against a team, and the connection to race or ethnicity was not unequivocal. No other clause of the Code was contravened.
The complaints were dismissed.