On July 20, the Sunday Sun published a controversial article by columnist Qwelane, “Call me names, but gay is NOT okay”. The article sparked outrage and around 1,000 complaints were lodged with the Press Ombudsman.R
Thloloe ruled on July 29, that while the Sunday Sun was in breach of Section 2.1 of the South African Press Code on three counts, it did not amount to hate speech. The Sunday Sun was ordered to apologise for the controversial article. The apology was published in the August 3 edition of the newspaper.
Within seven days of the Press Ombudsman’s decision, appeals may be made to the chairperson of the Press Appeals Panel, Judge Ralph Zulman.
Several individual appeals were lodged against Thloloe for his ruling in the matter, and the case has now been handed over to Judge Zulman.
“I cannot comment on the matter as it is now in in Judge (Ralph) Zulman’s hands,” says Thloloe.
Many complaints still streamed in to the office of the Press Ombudsman after he had made his ruling. According to a release from gayspeak.co.za, some of the complaints are based on the following grounds:
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Perceived bias on the part of the Press Ombudsman, as he is allegedly friends with Qwelane.
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The ruling only sanctions the Sunday Sun and not Qwelane in his personal or other capacities.
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The ruling was rushed and ill researched. It was made while further complaints were rolling in and could not have been carefully considered.
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The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is yet to make a ruling. Its spokesperson, Vincent Moaga, says the SAHRC “is still assessing all the complaints”.
The infamous article received the most complaints ever lodged with the SAHRC against an individual. Moaga says “close to 500” complaints were filed against the columnist.
