by Thinus Ferreira
The Afrikaans tabloid talk show Sê jou Sê with presenter Aden Thomas on M-Net's kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) channel which is aimed at coloured viewers is being criticised for stereotyping, shaming and making fun of South Africa's coloured working class people, described as "diarrhoea TV" and being reminiscent of "The Jerry Springer Show in America".
Similar to the exploitative tabloid TV content that Siyaya TV's Nsizwa Ginger Media Network is mining for its Moja Love (DStv 157) channel with big ratings success the past few years, first M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel followed with similar low-market, cheaply produced blaxploitation content, and with kykNET now also getting on the bandwagon with a show like Sê jou Sê.
The activist and educational psychologist Quinton Adams told Rapport newspaper on Sunday that Sê jou Sê is "destructive", describing the show filmed at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town as "superficial, condescending and destructive; I can't believe that kykNET allows this type of material."
Quinton Adams told the newspaper that "I have respect for Aden Thomas but Sê jou Sê derails the developmental process we want to have with the coloured community. I find it unacceptable that it's being presented in such a sensationalistic manner".
Danie van Wyk, DAK Netwerk chairperson, told the newspaper that "All we're asking is that Sê jou Sê replaces the way it's being presented with something of a more positive reflection, or that it be redeveloped".
"The way that Sê jou Sê is being presented currently on kykNET is reminiscent of The Jerry Springer Show in America. It borders on diarrhoea TV!"
Waldimar Pelser, kykNET boss, told Rapport in a statement that Sê jou Sê is fulfilling a great need under DStv subscribers watching kykNET to be able to speak in an unscripted way about social issues.
