QWELANE RESPONDS
Jon Qwelane has finally reacted to the furore centred on his recent homophobic article published in the Sunday Sun on the weekend.
Speaking to The Times last night he said that he was unaware that complaints had been made about the column.
He commented however that “I stand by my column,” asking “Whatever happened to freedom of speech in this country?”
Sunday Sun Publisher Deon du Plessis also spoke to the newspaper and said: “I don’t want to talk while the matter is in front of the Press Ombudsman.”
Meanwhile Cape Town Pride has confirmed that it is planning a protest outside the offices of the Media24 group in that city on Friday. Media24 is the owner of the Sunday Sun newspaper.
Pride Chairperson Ian McMahon told Mambaonline that the organisation had applied for permission to hold the demonstration and will notify the media if and when the protest goes ahead as soon as details are finalised.
Qwelane’s July 20 article, titled Call me names, but gay is NOT okay…, equated homosexuality with bestiality, praised Robert Mugabe’s oppression of gays and lesbians and encouraged the removal of the sexual-orientation clause from the constitution.
Freedom of The Press. It is no surprise hearing him comment
“What happened to freedom of speech in this country
It’s going to be decided on legality of how much freedom one has at the expense of others and protected by law.
It’s that simple.
Qwelane in the news. The media (not just gay media) is not happy with Qwelane. (Check out mediaweb.co.za for more comment on this ) Media24 needs to be accountable for its employees. About time we hit it where it hurts – in the pocket. If you read Media24 publications, read them in the store and don’t buy them! Thats what I say.
the selective bill. 16. Freedom of expression
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes ?
1. freedom of the press and other media;
2. freedom to receive or impart information or ideas;
3. freedom of artistic creativity; and
4.
academic freedom and freedom of scientific research.
2. The right in subsection (1) does not extend to ?
1. propaganda for war;
2. incitement of imminent violence; or
3. advocacy of hatred that is based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion, and that constitutes incitement to cause harm.
this is an excerpt from the bill of rights
Shower the dude with LOVE. He obviously must have had a very unhappy childhood! Or something really BAD must have happened to him in his past.
WE ALL HAVE SKELETONS IN OUR CLOSETS!
Most important thing though is, least we forget the THEME of this years’ PRIDE:
LOVE – NOT HATE!
That is why i firmly believe that we should shower the dude with LOADS of love and show him TRUE LOVE actually is.
Since he is obviously so sadly deprived thereof!
Lets pray for him and his sad statements he made!
Shame!
Media24. The sad thing about this whole debacle is that Mr Qwelane is, I think, revelling in all this attention. He is a loser of a journalist, having been kicking of from 702. I mean he’s publishing in the Sunday Sun for goodness sake – hardly the bastion of credible journalism.
It’s Media 24 who we should be angry with. They should not have allowed the publication of the article. The media need to realise their powerful influence over society, particularly in newspapers like the Sun and the Sunday Sun. There is Freedom of Speech in this country, but as Gryffoyn pointed out, this has very clear limits – limits that were exceeded with the publication of this article!
Idiot!. Maybe Mr. Qwelane is struggling to accept his sexuality and is lashing out in anger…
freedom of hate speech?. It’s sad that he should actually ask about what happened to freedom of speech? Freedom of speech means that you have the freedom to say whatever the hell you want to who you want, but to publish your opinions in a public paper read by millions is not freedom of speech.
It is just as well as a white boy calling you (Mr Qwelane) the “k” word and saying that you are an animal that needs to be caged. That would be freedom of speech if the boy keeps it within his friendship circle and not advertise it in public. How would you feel if someone should start making comments about you, and call you names, and compare you to a baboon or even a gorilla?
I do however call you a son of a bitch since I do not believe that you had the kind of education from your mother to teach you better.
Come on now, we have long ended the era of apartheid where the gay community struggled along with your kind for equal human rights. Let’s not start throwing stones at one another. We are all different, and unique in our own way. Leave us, the GLBT community in peace. Start writing about something like the rich and famous and their scandals, or about achievements by previously disadvantaged people. That should be more your style. Or how about how BEE ruined this country’s economy?
Anyways, I’m gonna stop here. I’ve spoken my mind.
u are racist pig. You have no clue what is like a black man in your country. can u imagine to have screwed up white people black people in general instead of an individual. If I were you I consider relocating to Australia or somewhere u could happily with your other pink skinned junkies
LOVE not HATE. Fully agree with heart42. Look at him and you only feel pity! Nevertheless, he should face the laws for human rights violations and get himself psychological help!
It’s no surprise that the insignificant Qwelane won’t apologise. After all, he is thriving in the cesspit of drivle he has created (that’s were pond scrapers belong anyway).
If he has such high admiration for Mugabe then why doesn’t he live in Zimbabwe? But of course he won’t. He’s a coward who’d rather spew his poisonous opinion under the guise of “freedom of speech.”
He lives in a complete fantasy world if he thinks that one day the constitution will be re-written just because he says so. He is a spec of dust, a “man” who likes to think himself important. But I feel most sorry for the people who have to actually live and talk to him on a daily basis. At least my cat sees him once a day when he does his business in the litter box. Thanks ‘The Sunday Sun’ for providing such excellent toilet facilities…