• Tweet

RELATED ARTICLES

• Metro FM'S funny duo
• Unathi, the sweetest of the Idols judges
• Lloyd Cele releases another album
• DJ fined for speeding

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA has dismissed a complaint against controversial 5FM presenter Gareth Cliff for calling a woman a “bitch”.

The word was used in a “playful and melodramatic manner”, the BCCSA said.

Cliff, who hosts 5FM’s Breakfast Show, addressed a female caller as “Dear Bitch” on June 6, in an attempt to get her to call the station back.

However, the woman, who was never named on the show, took offence and lodged a complaint with the commission.

She had called two days earlier to express her opinion about M-Net’s Idols programme.

A 5FM representative argued that the woman’s dignity had not been impaired as she was not identified.

He told a BCCSA tribunal the incident needed to be seen in the context of broadcasts over three days.

The woman’s “aggressive and confrontational style” had resulted in Cliff referring to her as “Dear Bitch” in the same way one would refer to a person being “bitchy”.

The woman said: “My complaint is against Gareth Cliff using such profane and unnecessary language, even not knowing the individual”.  She argued that children listened to the morning show, and should not be exposed to such language.

While the complaint was not upheld, 5FM was cautioned that repetitive use of the word should be discouraged.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Sat May 25 11:28:42 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 1, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Ai this guy is skating on a very thin ice
Report Abuse

Aug 1, 2012

Louloubaby

dear bitch..... kwaaaa
Report Abuse

Aug 1, 2012

Mellow

The woman’s “aggressive and confrontational style”
........................................................................................................
Hhmmm so he was intimidated by this woman, no reason to call one beechie hope he apologised on air nogal
Report Abuse

Aug 1, 2012

YNOTY

Cliff is always contriversial...
Report Abuse

Aug 1, 2012

swona

dont see anything wrong there!
Report Abuse

Aug 1, 2012

mathopeed

This boy is always o the wrong side of the LAW. Even in TUKS were he was studyng, he once got caught. Wa telela dae Mlungu
Report Abuse

Aug 1, 2012

Maezizsto4Sure

Moer this white boi wa tella yena period.
Report Abuse

Aug 1, 2012

Danielrjvvuren

O please for the love of all that is holy... Sowetan line being sensationalists. This lady was rude and he was using it in context and kids hear much worse in school, why don't we focus on education and teen pregnancy rather then some DJ calling someone a bitch....
Report Abuse

Aug 1, 2012

Socrates

BCCSA is a useless organisation without any mandate, so their verdict is that it is ok to insult a wopman or any person in a casual manner, that does not contrivene their laws. they are full of kak period. I recall i once launched a complaint regarding that Big head called DJ Fresh for talking rubbish whilst he was still with Y-Fm all the incompetent staff at BCCSA told was that they could not find the tapes of the show, every show is recorded for that matter but these lazy morons said there was nothing. they are protecting radio DJ's at the expence of society.
Report Abuse

Aug 1, 2012

Sjamolelo

The ruling by BCCSA was right in every sense of the word.People need to understand words when used in a specific context.
Report Abuse

Read all 22 comments