A column by Kuli Roberts in the tabloid Sunday World has sparked outrage across the country. Twitter and Facebook were abuzz on Sunday night as the ripples from the column spread out across the social networks.
The column, titled Jou Ma se Kinders – Eish I Miss Daai Lippies Vannie Kaap, has prompted a flurry of complaints to Avusa, which publishes the newspaper. In fact, when TheMediaOnline called Avusa’s public editor, Thabo Leshilo for comment on Monday morning, the person answering the phone heaved a huge sigh. Apparently, the phone has not stopped ringing…
City Press editor, Ferial Haffajee (@FerialHaffajee) tweeted on Sunday nights that “if David Bullard was fired for racism then so must Avusa fire Kuli Roberts. Sunday World column on coloureds. Racist, vile, disgusting.”
Jacques Roussouw (@JacquesR) responded that “Both are vile. But neither should be fired.”
Sipho Hlongwane (@ComradeSipho) wrote “What was going through Kuli Roberts’ mind when she wrote this bile?” And added: “More specifically how did her editor think it was ok to publish such blatantly racist crap?”
Of course, every action has a reaction and it wasn’t long before there was a #indefenceofkuliroberts feed flying around the networks mostly on the theme that ‘Roberts makes fun of black people too’.
5FM’s Grant Nash has just posted: “Come on now its Kuli for goodness sake…have u read any of her other articles ? She is rough like that…she gets paid to cause controversy. And his partner on air, Anele, wrote: “Kuli has coloured kids mos, so how bad could this article have been ?”
To which Julius S Malema (not the real dude) responded: RT: @Anele: Kuli has coloured kids mos, so how bad could this article have been? {So bad that even @trevornoah would find it distasteful}.
Then came the tweets about how Sunday World pulled the link – has no one realised that when it’s out, it’s out? Just ask Sarah Palin – and how it is now back up again – due to public demand. Don’t think Sunday World has even seen such traffic on its website.
Pithy commentator Herman Lategan (@HermLategan) was more offended by the quality of writing. “The reality is that Kuli Roberts can’t write, she could never write, she should not have been given that space.”
@juanitaw agreed: “Terribly amused that people are defending #Kuli ‘s writing ‘style’. What style?!”
In the meantime, everyone awaits Avusa’s response. Watch this space.
To read the column: http://www.sundayworld.co.za/Home/Article.aspx?id=1191023
@SundayWorldZA
@KuliRoberts
@NkulOo (in defence of Kuli Roberts)
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7 Comments
Princesa Xzaviera
We have read Kuli Roberts’ view on coloured women, as per Sunday World 27th February 2011.
My opinion is that if it was not wrong, slanderous, crude and racist, it would NOT be removed from the website! (I see that it’s back up)
What kind of publication is this that allowed it to go to print in the first place?
As coloured people, we have mostly chosen to remain neutral, unbiased… trying not to rock the boat, remaining impartial… but for goodness sake. As a professional, dignified coloured woman, I choose to join the more opinionated and say: “So vêr en nie verder nie!”
Kuli Roberts, you have certainly stepped into it this time! Remember the time you asked the gay Muslim hairdresser ‘why do you have a problem eating pork, you take it up the ass!’? It shows exactly how socially inept and ignorant you are! If ignorance were bliss you’d be orgasmic -THAT IS THE TRUTH!
PS – with a surname like Roberts, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU??? You and your sister are doing the coloured people so proud by loving the white men … YOU GO ON AND MAKE LITTLE COLOUREDS FOR US! We urge YOU to increase OUR population!!!
Davd Bullard
What a hoot? Get sacked by AVUSA for writing a racist article and you’ll find that you have never been more in demand as a speaker. R20000 for an evening versus R2 a word……you decide nebbishes.
Blaq
Kuli Roberts is an idiot!
Dela Diamante
Kuli ‘Roberts’ needs to remember that it was ‘bo gogo bakhe’ that were lifting up their ‘sdwabas’ so the white men could naai them-and I don’t mean sew! Nx!
Olivia
Kuli you are a terrible women. I am so happy that you are increasing our nation thank you, soon we will be taking over this country, and i hope you live to eat your words.
Jaylo39
Type your comment here.
Please could you mail me the article.
Thanks.
Lucretia610
It never ceases to amaze me how so many talentless ‘celebs’ manage to attract such a huge media presence and people who have substantial qualifications, work experience and professional credibility (as well as ethics) are left out in the cold. This woman is an insult to professional journalists, it is a disgrace that she was ever given a column in the first place.
That said, she will end up having a book deal (ghost written by someone who can actually write) and make a fortune from the tv spin offs, live appearance fees etc. etc. ad nauseum.
So sad.