Jacob Zuma South Africa President

London, Oct. 22, 2017 (AltAfrika)-South Africa is in the news again for the wrong reason. Allegation of racism is currently rocking TV giant M-Net  over an online advertisement requesting only for white candidate

City Press is reporting that the advertised position is a commissioning editor in Johannesburg at an annual salary of R800 000, the ad read: “Please note: We are specifically looking for a white, English-speaking commissioning editor as this role is for someone who will produce soapies and programmes in this specific demographic.”

Alerting City Press about the patently racist ad, one source – who does not wish to be named for fear of jeopardising their employment prospects – applied for the position and engaged with the recruitment agency, Kandhi Consulting.

“They were specific about the TV station being M-Net, the kind of contracts M-Net offers, the psychometric tests that it does, etcetera.”

M-Net has distanced itself from the ad, saying it was not authorised and that the work had been subcontracted by its agency to another recruitment outfit without the company’s knowledge.

Yolisa Phahle, the chief executive of M-Net, said the station was “appalled” by the “racist, unlawful and disgraceful advert, which would be contrary to our recruitment policy, our values, the Constitution and other legislation”.

She sent City Press the extensive role profile that had been submitted to the original recruitment agency. It made no mention of demographic requirements.

Another TV executive, who also wished to remain nameless, could not contain their disbelief when shown the ad. “There are lots of excellent black commissioning editors who handle work in other demographics. Since when can a black person not make TV for white audiences? White people make TV for black audiences right across the film and TV industries. This is just racist.”

Kandhi Consulting staff were, at first, happy to speak to City Press over the phone. They confirmed the authenticity of the ad and that it was for a position at M-Net.

However, they referred us to their more senior associates, Ambit Recruitment.

Ambit’s Caren Doyle denied any involvement in the ad: “I confirm that this was not something that M-Net or Ambit was aware of, and we do not condone it either. The consultants in question had, at the time, just started working with Ambit Recruitment and posted this ad in their own capacity.

“It was a very unfortunate oversight, which should not have happened. This is in no way a reflection of our clients’ policies, nor that of Ambit Recruitment,” Doyle protested.

M-Net’s Phahle said the company had established that, “without our knowledge, our recruitment agency subcontracted another agency to advertise the commissioning editor vacancy”.