A black South African journalist, and columnist Jon Qwelane has refused to apologise after he called his former colleague at 702 Talk Radio a ‘coconut’ who had objected to an off-the-record briefing organised by the Forum of Black Journalists (FBJ).with ANC president Jacob Zuma.

Qwelane during a public forum organised by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said he made it clear that he would not apologise for using the word coconut.

The heated and highly charged SAHRC forum focused on exclusive organisations.
The commission hosted the forum after receiving a complaint from 702 Talk Radio and 94.7 Highveld Stereo.

This came after its white political reporter Stephen Grootes was asked to leave the FBJ meeting, which was by invitation only to black, Indian and coloured journalists.
It submitted that while it did not object to the existence of the FBJ, it believes the exclusion of white journalists is not in line with the Constitution, the Equality Act and international law.

Yusuf Abramjee, group head of news, said at the meeting, Qwelane called him and talk show host Kieno Kammies, "coconuts" when they objected to its racial exclusivity and they also lodged a complaint saying it was discriminatory and hurtful.
"We can see no conceivable basis on which the conduct of the FBJ is justifiable," he said. Their "destructive" behaviour had caused divisions in the journalistic fraternity, Abramjee said.

FBJ chairman and SABC news editor, Abbey Makoe said to say that the FBJ has no place in South Africa, is to deny that black journalists have the right to association and organisation.

Makoe said issues in journalism were not limited to job descriptions and newsroom positions but extend to psychological, spiritual, cultural aspects of reconstruction of their (black journalists’) own rehumanisation.

Black journalists wanted to be able to submit a black view without white sanction and their rights were protected by the Constitution.

“As a forum of black journalists we knew that Jacob Zuma’s presence at the briefing would be a "magnet of sorts", attracting journalists who would not otherwise have attended. We discussed as FBJ members whether we wanted to admit our white colleagues,” he said.

He said the complaint by white journalists smacks of paternalistic arrogance and undermines the right to independence of thought and action.

"This is about black journalists, their rights, their fears, their concerns." Makoe said.
He challenged those making the accusations to tell FBJ that what it is doing is illegal and unconstitutional.
“We have the right to association as embedded in the constitution of this country,” he said.

Tempers flared between the Department of Arts and Culture spokesman Sandile Memela and Sowetan editor Thabo Leshilo when Memela said he could have been an editor at the Sunday World but was forced out of the newsroom because he was "uncontrollable".

He said there was no room for journalists in South Africa who were "authentically black" and there were black editors who suppressed black self determination and identity.
“Some newsrooms looked like "bantustans" with black journalists doing the "running around" and the decision makers being white,” Memela said.

To which Leshilo countered that Memela was being "economical with the truth" about the circumstances of his departure. Memela replied "let’s take it offline then", before order was restored.

At the forum it was also announced that South Africa’s 2010 Local Organising Committee soccer boss Irvin Khoza had apologised unreservedly in a statement for using the word ’kaffir" towards a black journalist.
Khoza said he had decided on this action after seeing the University of Free State racist video on the news.