Morné Morris vs. Beeld
SUMMARY
The poster in dispute read, Hof sê skool is vol, so basta (published on 16 January 2018).
This ruling by Press Ombud Johan Retief was based on the Press Code that was in effect before 30 September 2022.
The story was about a school that could not take in any more pupils.
Morné Morris complained that the poster was abusive and vulgar as it in fact told students to “voertsek” (referring to the word “basta”). He added that this message was dividing the country and did not assist the debate on how to accommodate all learners.
The newspaper said “basta” meant “enough”, or “finished”.
Retief said he appreciated Morris’s concern, but he could not share his opinion. The word “basta” certainly was not synonymous with “voertsek”. In other words, the poster merely said, “The court says the school is full – and that is the end of the matter.” That is exactly what “basta” means in normal parlance – “finish and klaar”.
The poster was therefore not abusive, vulgar, racist, divisive or disrespectful against anybody.
The complaint was dismissed.
THE RULING ITSELF
PARTICULARS
|
Complainant |
Mr Morné Morris |
|
Publication |
Beeld |
|
Date of article |
16 January 2018 |
|
Poster |
Hof sê skool is vol, so basta |
|
Respondent |
Marga Ley, Beeld’s internal ombud |
Complaint; arguments
Morris complains that the poster was abusive and vulgar as it in fact told students to “voetsek”. He adds that this message was dividing the country and did not assist the debate on how to accommodate all learners.
Ley denies that the poster was abusive or vulgar. She says the HAT (Handwoordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal) describes “basta” as meaning, “genoeg” (“enough”), or “klaar” (“finished”).
She adds that a mother who tells her child she is done talking (and “basta”), will not consider that child a dog or a vagrant.
Morris replies that the word “basta” also had a racial connotation as it was aimed at black people, and adds that it invoked hatred. “[What Beeld] meant is get the ‘f’ out,” he says.
Morris also says the context in which the word was used has made it vulgar, and argues that one should not only take into consideration how a dictionary defines the term. “You only use that word when you have no respect for the individual. You would use that word for a vagrant that is going through your rubbish or to a dog that does not belong on your property,” he says.
Analysis
I appreciate Morris’s concern, but I cannot share his opinion. The word “basta” certainly is not synonymous with “voertsek” – if it were, I would have agreed with him. But “basta” means what Ley says it means, and not what Morris purports it to signify.
In other words, the poster merely said, “The court says the school is full – and that is the end of the matter.” That is exactly what “basta” means in normal parlance – “finish and klaar”.
The poster was therefore not abusive, vulgar, racist, divisive or disrespectful against anybody.
Finding
The complaint is dismissed.
Appeal
The Complaints Procedures lay down that within seven working days of receipt of this decision, either party may apply for leave to appeal to the Chairperson of the SA Press Appeals Panel, Judge Bernard Ngoepe, fully setting out the grounds of appeal. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Johan Retief
Press Ombud
