I am highly disappointed at the stance that Makhanya or the executive of Sunday Times took. I am an African, a Zulu one and I did not find David Bullard's column racist at all. As a matter of fact, when I read it, I laughed and showed it to my boyfriend to read. It was just another one of David's brilliant satirical pieces.

He has written so many other controversial articles, in fact more controversial than the one he was fired for. David Bullard is an excellent writer, who I couldn't wait to read after reading Khumalo. I will really miss his work, he should write a book.

The man had to go, and he had it coming for a long time.

This is not just "another" article, it's highly offensive.

I'm glad he got the boot!

sa has far bigger prblms than outspoken journo's.

i enjoyed the article and DID NOT find it to be racist.

I find that AA, EE and BEE is of a far more racist attitude and words that belong in the grave together with "Slegs Blankes".

Looking forward to see him packing and go live with his civilised human friends in europe

He asked for it!

Not If
*Jacob Zuma is allowed to be President ...
*Black Journalists can meet ...
*Thabo Mbeki thinks there’s nothing wrong in Zimbabwe ...
* … the list is endless

Columnists are supposed to inspire critical thinking among readers - yes, it is on the proverbial edge, but hasn't he done his job then? We're all talking,we're all thinking, we're all engaging with one another and therefore moving a step ahead... It's called journalism people, good journalism.

Really, let's all do South Africa a favour and allow vibrant, colourful expression of opinion, the use of satire and irony, humour, and logical, rational debate depending on what is to be communicated or 'stimulated'. And if you don't understand etc. ask questions - don't slate a good journalist with a terrific track record because your own prejudices and racism are being projected onto him... Is your first thought 'he's a racist' because you also like to label others when presented with what you deem a problem - "oh, that person's a racist"; "it's because she's a woman", "damn taxi drivers - all the same"; "it's because he's fat"; "it's because they're stupid" - All judgements we all make in a knee-jerk situation where we all, yes all of us, get defensive at some point or another. And these judgements are all based on OUR individual opinions rather than what is... which is bullsh*t.

Why is everyone's first reaction to cry 'racism' or in other words to judge thy brother. Is anybody really thinking... or are we just 'reacting' because it's just so damn easy to blame, point fingers instead of rising to the challenge of thinking for ourselves, and I mean really thinking.

People, if we can't talk about it - no matter how difficult the topic - and express what it is that needs expressing in a non-violent way, we're never going to move ahead, together - or is that indeed the point - divide and conquer.

Who knows... But I miss being happy - how about you?

But unfortunately this is not Europe, it's Africa, there is a lot of baggage, brought either by culture, our governmnet and the leaders that put us to shame everytime they open their mouths. We all wish we could be happy but with crime, Zimbabwe crisis etc it's almost impossible.

The apartheid was terrible and we were promised a better life, non-racial, and a better life for all but what do we have an embarasment for leaders, crime like you cannot believe, affirmative action not implemented properly, an education system that is in shambles; We are afraid and always looking for someone to blame. Government and the whole system has not failed only the white people but black people too, look at BEE for instance, only a bunch of people have benefited really, the rest is just making it and poverty is spiralling in black communities.

Now, white people think they have a right to critisize and say black government has failed, maybe they could do better or they have done better in the past and they are smarter. We have had apartheid remember? I think instead of white people thinking crime affects only them and black people finding themselves defending all the time in the morning when having coffee with colleagues, we need to stand together and find a way out people! Government is failing EVERYONE why cant we see that? our we really willing to leave the future of our children in these people's hands, if not what are we gonna do? It does not help to get upset whenever the David Bullard's of this world write controversial articles, we need a solution and fast!
I mean someone still needs to write about taxi drivers at Noord who are anti mini-skirts...these people come from areas where woman use to walk around naked but no they find mini-skirts offensive, what rubbish is that???

What are we gonna do?

I think the remarks were racist and did not qualify to be read by millions of South Africans who are working tirelessly to forget the past. You can imagine the number of people who imbibed his racist comments which are rather stupid. As a journalist you dont really express your feelings but rather accommodate your readers.

I have three problems with legendary columnist David Bullard being fired this past week.

Firstly when did we loose freedom of the press as a constitutional right? I'm not saying we should allow mainstream media to spew forth racist comments but please, give us all a break. We are exactly one patriot act away from turning into the US where rights not only mean nothing, but most citizens don’t even know what they are. 50% of American 8th graders don’t know what country borders the great state of Georgia (no this isn’t just a country in Eastern Europe). Why are they so lax about there rights to privacy, rights to freedom of association? In a country where ordinary people are afraid to take certain books out of the library because they might get "red flagged" the greatest raping of their civil rights took place not during the Bush administration and the war against terror, but while they allowed their literacy levels to slip behind that of Russia.

This is happening to South Africa today. While most would agree that public schools have only gone downhill since the implementation of curriculum 2005 still we cling onto this failed system. Why you might ask? Well a dumbed down society will be less aware of their rights and won't be equipped to fight for them. You don’t need a whole country full of top achievers to be successful, but if you can keep the population docile….

Secondly, David Bullard was appointed as a controversial satirical columnist which he did excellently, why then fire him for this. Knowing how controversial David was please don't try and tell me no one proof reads his column before print with the lawyers and editors tearing through every detail. If anyone needed to be fired surely those responsible should fall on their own swords.

Our Problem in SA is no one is accountable for anything. Rapists get off Scott free because a woman's skirt was too short. Thieves because of poverty. Embezzlers- stress. Politicians get off because the whole damned system is corrupt. And now it would seem that even the editor of the Sunday Times is beyond reproach.

Thirdly it would seem as if we in Southern Africa have lost our voice. We are no longer heard. We do not stand together we do not have any common goals. And out of protest I will no longer read the Sunday Times. This is too bad as I thoroughly enjoyed chuckling at Bullard and reading through almost every page of the paper. If Bullard was fired because of pressure from government, well lets just say we have a look to look forward to in years to come, and should anyone be impatient about how things will turn out, I'm sure we could one of the travel agencies to package six days and seven nights in Hotel Harare.

Its a free country. why not write whats on his mind.

okay, you say we can write what's on the mind right, well here goes, you are a stupid non thinking anal opening.

Freedom of speach without restrictions is chaos.

Editors make the final decision as to what appears in the newspaper. The Sunday Times chose to run this particular article therefore they should take the rap, not David Bullard.
I am cancelling my subscription to the Sunday Times because of this.

Democracy, freedom of speech, free will, free enterprise, constitutional rights. We spew these words out daily, yet fail on every one of them.

SA has long begun tottering on that slipperly slope towards anarchy. In the not-too-distant future, all the nay-sayers, those that think this is still such a rosy country with very few problems, will be the first to pack their bags and stand in a very long queue on a plane to nowhere. And the sign above will read "will the last person to leave the country please turn off the lights".

Or perhaps it won't, for obvious reasons.

no, i love it when white people write like this. they remind me that they have been painted after 1994. that a lion will never be a vegetarian and it makes me want to press on just to prove them wrong...just like i prove them wrong everyday and they think i am not black if i possess such intelligence and a human spririt they only read about in their fiction dreamland. that is why i will also carry on to increase my fellow black people's salaries much more than their white counterparts, i will develop my people much more, i will teach them much more and i will make sure they succeed coz white people like to claim their superiority which by the way does not exist. all the white people who work for me are as brainless as their forefathers who do nothing but suck up to me so blatantly,it makes me proud that my own people impress me only with their intelligence and their added vigour.

who is the racist now, T.N ?!?

Shame on you Sir, shame on you. As I am part of the Generation Y, I did not partake in any Apartheid movements, along with the fellow white AND black youth we are paying for the repercussions of our forefathers, but when I read opinions like this it makes me sick. The arrogance and stupidity of thinking you are adding value by paying black people more and teaching them more than others is ludicrous. You define the word stereotype all to perfectly, you say that white people try co claim superiority, but perhaps you should re-read your article and realize how contradictory it is, let alone prove that you are a hypocrite. I printed this article out and pasted it on the wall of my college with a ialogue box at the bottom for opinions on it, and I shall reiterate, you should be ashamed, and you have lost the respect of the youth ten fold, you really should put your tail between your legs and bow out gracefully, you really are a utter disgrace to be calling ourself a South African. Its obvious that you are disillusioned in thinking that by "proving" white people wrong you are doing anyone a favor, you are fueling a wild fire (and yes, you are not the only one with issues in this country). You also claim that you will "carry on to increase my fellow black people's salaries much more than their white counterparts", and what satisfaction do you get out of this? You are not only reversing what people fought for for decades, but you are inadvertently telling the people of South Africa that equality bars no meaning in your dreams of what this country can become. Its seems that it is not "white" people who are painted after 1994 as you claimed, but it is you who has forgotten what it is like to be PROUDLY South African.

Thank God, I have this to look forward too when I (along with the rest of the youth) strive for a fair and beautiful South Africa.

It's simple you live by the sword you die by the sword. So if you write shit you have to be fired period. He can go work at Beeld.

Whoever reads the sunday times is believed to have some form of intelectuall capablity and an open mind.If you do not agree with bullard,write an article stating why!Get a life

A bit of truth always seems to hurt...
Look to your left and flick that chip off your shoulders, its no racisism, its the truth...

Where the hell is freedom of speech??????
If you don't want to read, then don't!
If you don't want to listen to, then don't!
You have a choice people......
No he didn't need to be fired!
John 'trying to make name for myself' Qwelane gets away with it.....pathetic ex 702 daft twat that he is....
Anyway, must go, bills to pay, bank managers to suck up to...

David, sad to see you go...!

I agree... AA, EE and BEE is just as bad as "SLegs Blankes".

Reverse racism...??

David Bullard has the balls to say what no one else dares to. Where is the spirit of freedom of speech? Where in this world do you have a crazy country that allows freedom of speech guaranteed..and then we have black journalists forming an elite "cabal".

These is similar to the boere who formed their own elite society.

Time for the opressed white people to rise up and start to fight this crazyness that has gripped the country. Time to rise and take back our dignity and fight THIS OPPRESSIVE REGIME. That forces crime on us. Rape. Hijacking and the crazy people who believe it is OK to use the word "racist" everytime they are totally incompetent.

TIME TO BE COUNTED AND START TO FIGHT BACK

David Bullard has the balls to say what no one else dares to. Where is the spirit of freedom of speech? Where in this world do you have a crazy country that allows freedom of speech guaranteed..and then we have black journalists forming an elite "cabal".

These is similar to the boere who formed their own elite society.

Time for the opressed white people to rise up and start to fight this crazyness that has gripped the country. Time to rise and take back our dignity and fight THIS OPPRESSIVE REGIME. That forces crime on us. Rape. Hijacking and the crazy people who believe it is OK to use the word "racist" everytime they are totally incompetent.

TIME TO BE COUNTED AND START TO FIGHT BACK

Ex liberation believer you are DUM DUM, you think you and your white friends are the only ones affected by crime. it is this ignorance from the white community and the unwillingness to meet us halfway that will ensure that we take longer to work our issues out. why can you not acknowlegde that he was insensitive? becuase truly you yourself feel as a black people we are inferior and we must be happy to accept it and not call it racism. NONE OF YOU DUM DUMS ARE LIVING IN SHACKS BUT YOU ARE THE ONES COMPLAINING ALL THE TIME!

You voted ANC - you live with it...
You were promised housing, jobs, housing, food, housing....
Should I go on....?
It's not about halfway, this country is racism in reverse and you know it!!!!!
Our 'domestic' approached my oldlady in 1994 and said 'don't worry, you can stay in my room Madam" - what was she promised?
Go claim your house buddy.....it's what you were promised.
Just like our friend Mr Zuma - he will be so bust fulfilling over promised favors he won't have time to run the country.

If only to deprive people like TN of a soap box for shooting his mouth off. (Insert token name-calling rant).

@"He did his job, and well, by all accounts."

Yes, I think a lot of us miss being happy, but moreover, I, and I am sure I'm not alone in this, am sick of feeling threatened and angry about banal systemic inefficiencies and injustices. Of working on large BEE accounts where client doesn't know their * from their elbows yet have stinking attitudes about everything.
(br/)
TN, you don't happen to be a client of mine, do you?

He's stupit,he' heartless,he deserve to go.

he is so, so, so stupid he diserves to be fired.

Bullard should have introduced himself more so in order for us to understand him better because we might construe him as a racist but he might not be one so what I did was to investigate as the corerectness of his column contents and of course some of the things he said are true because I look at Johannesburgg and I mean as soon as whites left it disintegrated.

However one also has got to look at the fine lines of his column since as a white man it will be easy to regard his remarks as racialistic that`s why its important that he tells us if who he really is politically!

I hope the Sundaytimes will invite Max Du Preez to write for that page since he is very articulative and informative and educative tooand maybe bullard can take a leaf from him as to what writing is all about.

David Bullard may have written an absurd piece this time; but overall he is fun to read and is one of my favourite South African writers even though I am a Nigerian, who lives in Lagos, Nigeria.

"I shall not be moved by T.N
no, i love it when white people write like this. they remind me that they have been painted after 1994. that a lion will never be a vegetarian and it makes me want to press on just to prove them wrong...just like i prove them wrong everyday and they think i am not black if i possess such intelligence and a human spririt they only read about in their fiction dreamland. that is why i will also carry on to increase my fellow black people's salaries much more than their white counterparts, i will develop my people much more, i will teach them much more and i will make sure they succeed coz white people like to claim their superiority which by the way does not exist. all the white people who work for me are as brainless as their forefathers who do nothing but suck up to me so blatantly,it makes me proud that my own people impress me only with their intelligence and their added vigour."


I refer to the comment above. First of all, perhaps you should learn how to spell and write grammatically correct English before you make such ludicrous statements. Until then you're no more than a barely literate and racist BEE opportunist. You got lucky, but only because of Affirmative Action. You're no business man, nor have you any business savvy, you just have a black skin. You make me laugh.

YOUR SHIT SPELLING BELOW SUCKS SO MUCH THAT ONE WONDERS WHERE THE HECK DID YOU GET THE GALL TO ACCUSE ME OF POOR SPELLING.

IN THE ENGLISH GRAMMAR THERE`S NOTHING LIKE COS...LEARN HOW TO SPELL MAN BECAUSE YOUR ARTICLE IS ALSO REEKING WITH RACISM!

C'mon, be a man - tell us who your company is. I'm sure your employers, clients & suppliers would all be charmed that they have such a blatant racist as a business partner and employer. It can only be as a result of AA, BEE or EE that a business would have such a narrow minded bigot at its helm.

You're an embarrassment to the black people of this country who are trying to pick up the pieces of apartheid and build a better country. You make me ashamed to be black. You justify white racism with your archaic comments that are tantamount to hate speech.

I certainly feel offended by bullard's article, but some of the responses i have been reading on this blog are even more disturbing. Just a reflection of the amount of work that needs to be done in this country. Maybe before we each type our thoughts on the blogs we can "start with the (man)person in the mirror". In the end we all have something to fix and work on, or we shall continue to bicker and stay stagnant like fools. I'm starting with me how about you?

truth hurts boss? so when is the truth racism, misguided bastard?

If the same kind of vile rhetoric was said about Jews or Muslims....all sorts of apologies would fly around.When are people going to take our pain seriously. We have kids that are growing up in this era and nonsense like that damages their sense of worth and perpetuates these beliefs about us that maybe all the "Bullard Apostles" would want to pass on to their kids !!

IT WAS WRONG ....WE ALSO GET HURT BY YOUR ACTIONS !!

There is no one in Davids league and he humoured the incompetencies of the affirmatives in the most polite manner.