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DJ blasted for saying good riddance to Manto

Gareth Cliff was voted one of the sexiest man PIC. Muntu Vilakazi 6/10/2006. © Sunday Times.
Gareth Cliff was voted one of the sexiest man PIC. Muntu Vilakazi 6/10/2006. © Sunday Times.

THE ANC Youth League has demanded that 5fm DJ Gareth Cliff apologise publicly for saying that former health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's passing was a matter of good riddance.

THE ANC Youth League has demanded that 5fm DJ Gareth Cliff apologise publicly for saying that former health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's passing was a matter of good riddance.

Cliff, who presents the breakfast show on the SABC radio station, posted a comment on the social network site Twitter just moments after the announcement of Tshabalala-Msimang's death on Wednesday.

It read, "Manto is dead. Good. A selfish and wicked bungler of the lowest order. Rotten attitude and rancid livers - all three of them."

His comments have sparked a public furore. The youth league came out with guns blazing, demanding that Cliff apologise "for speaking ill of the dead".

The league's spokesperson, Magdeline Moonsamy, said: "The ANCYL receives with disgust and shock the vulgar utterances of Cliff - in response to the passing of Comrade Tshabalala-Msimang.

"The comments are viewed as an undignified and hateful onslaught on a great contributor to democracy in South Africa and beyond.

"It is so unfortunate that this representative of the South African media displays such vulgarity at a time of bereavement and great loss to the nation. These actions certainly undermine freedom of expression and abuses the gains of our democracy.

"We demand an unequivocal apology from Cliff to the family, friends, and people of South Africa."

Cliff is known for his controversial opinions but his Twitter followers appeared to be unimpressed with this latest outburst.

The national broadcaster said it was not taking any immediate action against Cliff because his views were expressed on a private platform - and not on public radio.

"We are, however, going to look at the comments and then decide if action will be taken against him," said SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.

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