kykNET's Sê jou sê slammed as stereotyping and exploiting South Africa's coloured working class and being 'reminiscent of The Jerry Springer Show in America'.

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.

kykNET adds conflict TV talker with Aden Thomas, promises tears, to rip off the band-aid from old wounds and to surprise guests with unexpected visitors who know them.

by Thinus Ferreira

kykNET is adding a new conflict-focused Afrikaans TV talk show, Sê jou sê, with host Aden Thomas, which will start on Saturday 1 October on both the kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) channels at 19:30 promising tears, to rip off the band-aid from old wounds, and to surprise talk show guests with unexpected visitors who know them.

With Aden Thomas in the studio and with Sê jou sê recorded at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town, Chrislynn Sias will be a field presenter.

Aden Thomas is a radio DJ on Cape Town's Heart FM radio station.

Similar to low-class tabloid American talk shows of the 90s like Maury, Sally Jesse Raphael, Geraldo, Jerry Springer and The JennyJones Show, kykNET says that Sê jou sê will focus on disputes, fights, misunderstandings and alleged deception between partners, family members, loved-ones, friends who are fighting and business partners.

Are Afrikaans-speaking guests going to be throwing chairs? Are they going to be grabbing and pulling each other by the hair while swearing in Afrikaans?

"With Sê jou sê we want to give two opposing parties the opportunity to clear the air face-to-face and to hear all sides of a case," Aden Thomas says in a prepared press release.

"In addition there's the chance that sometimes we will invite a surprise guest who knows one or both parties so that they can have their say over the issue we're trying to solve."

kykNET says that Aden Thomas will rip off the band-aid from old wounds in front of a studio audience to help Sê jou sê participants to find healing and solutions.

"The audience will play an active role in participating in the programme and to give their opinions over what they think is right and wrong," Aden Thomas says.

Chrislynn Sias will be in the streets doing vox pops to solicit comments and opinions from people on the subjects being discussed in studio.