Is the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ 'racist'?
- 20 Feb 07, 03:29 PM
The ANC - South Africa's ruling party - has accused the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ of being racist for reporting the country's crime problem (more details ).
The truth, as ever, is a touch more complicated. Its has criticised a report by World Affairs Editor John Simpson, which ran on the eve of President Thabo Mbeki's "State of the Union" address. Curiously the article says we didn't mention urban renewal or real estate investment, instead choosing to focus on the country's 50 murders a day.
It's true.
But a few months ago, following the World Cup in Germany, Africa Correspondent Orla Guerin reported on the economic growth taking place ahead of the 2010 tournament, to be held in South Africa. Her colleague Peter Biles recently reported on Johannesburg's inner-city regeneration for "Africa Works" for the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service - the clue is in the title; it was a landmark series reflecting the successes of the continent.
John Simpson and his team spent five days gathering material in Johannesburg and Soweto. In the opening lines of his report, John Simpson made clear that the modern South Africa is a thriving optimistic society; he used the findings of opinion polls which suggest that despite the high levels of crime and AIDS, there's optimism that the problems can be solved; he filmed at a Soweto school where pupils are ambitious and optimistic, despite the problems they face. The opening lines of his piece say that some of the gleaming skyscrapers in downtown Johannesburg were empty. The green glass Garden Court Hotel which appears on screen when the line is delivered, is empty; so too is the Carlton Hotel, which an official web-site describes as 'mothballed' waiting re-development.
We wanted to put some of the points to the government - we asked for the opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, no-one was made available for interview.
The ANC newsletter says the - South Africa's national broadcaster - "would have absolutely no problem" focusing on the particular areas of London where crime is a big issue. Nor would the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ. Indeed in the last week, we've broadcast a number of pieces on gun-crime in South London and beyond. But there's no question that crime is a real issue in South Africa. John Simpson's report touched a raw nerve - but to liken the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's report to "the most die-hard racists in the country" is absurd.
We're proud to be part of the modern South Africa - our bureau chief in Johannesburg was brought up in Soweto, and is South African himself. In the United States, on the eve of the President's address to Congress, we explored the State of the Union - similarly in the UK at the State Opening of Parliament. It is surely right that we subject South Africa to the same sort of scrutiny as we do Britain and the United States. It's not racism - but the sign of a modern, vibrant, successful democracy.
Judge for yourself by clicking here.
Jon Williams is the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's world news editor
