Sonara
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 2, 2008
- 726
- 68
African Big Brother slammed as man slaps a woman during foul-mouthed row... and is allowed to remain in the house
A heavily-built Big Brother contestant avoided punishment after he pushed and then slapped a woman live on TV in a new low for the programme.
Producers of the African version of the show were accused of condoning domestic violence after the female contestant was assaulted, watched by viewers from 14 countries.
Ugandan Hannington Kuteesa, 24, thumped South African Lerato Sengadi, 26, during the Endemol-produced show, the same firm behind Britain's version.
Shocking viewing: Hannington Kuteesa, right, and Lerato Sengadi have a heated row on the African Big Brother programme
Push: Kuteesa, right, and Sengadi get physical as the row boils over
Following Tuesday's incident, bosses at the M-Net television network have refused to remove the fiery businessman from the programme despite calls for a police investigation into the incident.
Today, domestic abuse campaigner Wendy Isaack accused producers of sending out a dangerous signal about domestic violence to a continent where physical and sexual assaults against women were already prevalent.
The spokeswoman for the Johannesburg-based People Opposing Women Abuse group said: 'It is an absolute disgrace for Big Brother to allow an assault against a female contestant to go unpunished.
'This programme is watched by people across the continent, where around one in two women suffers physical or sexual abuse - often in extreme forms.
'In that context the producers should have immediately removed the man from the programme to set an example for others.
'We believe there should be a police investigation into this.
Strike: Kuteesa lashes out before punching his woman victim
'The woman should be told that she can press charges against him, but instead she is being forced to live in a house with her attacker in the name of entertainment.
'People argue that this is just a television programme, but it has a far reach across our country and Africa and in this day and age it is simply unacceptable for violence against women to be sanctioned in this way.'
This year's African Big Brother is the fifth series to be broadcast on the continent.
Dubbed 'All Stars', the housemates are all contestants from previous series of the programme, which is being produced by Endemol.
Tuesday's violent scenes were sparked as the contestants took part in a task aimed at highlighting the problem of malaria in Africa.
Kuteesa, from the southern Malawian city of Blayntyre, first pushed Sengadi before punching her in the jaw with his right fist.
Fellow housemates then stepped in to break up the fight, with Kenyan contestant Sheila Kwamboka holding Kuteesa back as he apparently tried to throw another punch at the South African events coordinator.
Dragged away: Shocked housemates react, pulling him away from the argument
Kwamboka screamed: 'You hit a woman, dude. How can you do that?'
Despite the ugly scenes, M-Net producers have refused to remove Kuteesa from the house.
Instead the entrepreneur was ticked him off about his behaviour in the diary room.
Admitting he had acted out of turn, the Ugandan apologised for his actions.
He said: 'I'm sorry for how I reacted. I have a temper problem, but I won't use this as an excuse. Lerato, I am really sorry.'
Campaigners have argued that violence against women remains a significant issue across Africa.
Last year a Medical Research Council survey revealed that one in four South African men had admitted to raping a woman.
Experts believe domestic violence is boosted by the continuing acceptance of traditional gender hierarchies in societies across the continent.
Race row: Shilpa Shetty was subject to vile racial abuse in the British celebrity version of Big Brother
Despite the furore, M-Net bosses have said they believed they had taken appropriate action over Tuesday's incident.
Today a spokeswoman confirmed Kuteesa was still in the house.
In an interview with South Africa's Times newspaper, publicist Lani Lombard added: 'Big Brother felt it necessary to consult psychologists and all the housemates before taking measures.
'M-Net will continue to take the appropriate actions when irresponsible behaviour results in a contravention of the game's rules.'
Big Brother Africa is broadcast from a purpose-built house in Johannesburg.
The reality franchise continues to be popular in many countries around the world.
The eleventh and final Channel Four series of the show ended in Britain last month.
It suffered a number of controversial episodes, including the notorious January 2007 race row involving Indian beauty Shilpa Shetty and the late Jade Goody.
Goody became a national hate figure for racially abusing Shetty, while in 2004 a contestant was thrown out for aggressive behaviour during an episode later dubbed Fight Night.
It has since been reported that the programme could be moved to Channel 5 from next year.
A heavily-built Big Brother contestant avoided punishment after he pushed and then slapped a woman live on TV in a new low for the programme.
Producers of the African version of the show were accused of condoning domestic violence after the female contestant was assaulted, watched by viewers from 14 countries.
Ugandan Hannington Kuteesa, 24, thumped South African Lerato Sengadi, 26, during the Endemol-produced show, the same firm behind Britain's version.
Following Tuesday's incident, bosses at the M-Net television network have refused to remove the fiery businessman from the programme despite calls for a police investigation into the incident.
Today, domestic abuse campaigner Wendy Isaack accused producers of sending out a dangerous signal about domestic violence to a continent where physical and sexual assaults against women were already prevalent.
The spokeswoman for the Johannesburg-based People Opposing Women Abuse group said: 'It is an absolute disgrace for Big Brother to allow an assault against a female contestant to go unpunished.
'This programme is watched by people across the continent, where around one in two women suffers physical or sexual abuse - often in extreme forms.
'In that context the producers should have immediately removed the man from the programme to set an example for others.
'We believe there should be a police investigation into this.
'The woman should be told that she can press charges against him, but instead she is being forced to live in a house with her attacker in the name of entertainment.
'People argue that this is just a television programme, but it has a far reach across our country and Africa and in this day and age it is simply unacceptable for violence against women to be sanctioned in this way.'
This year's African Big Brother is the fifth series to be broadcast on the continent.
Dubbed 'All Stars', the housemates are all contestants from previous series of the programme, which is being produced by Endemol.
Tuesday's violent scenes were sparked as the contestants took part in a task aimed at highlighting the problem of malaria in Africa.
Kuteesa, from the southern Malawian city of Blayntyre, first pushed Sengadi before punching her in the jaw with his right fist.
Fellow housemates then stepped in to break up the fight, with Kenyan contestant Sheila Kwamboka holding Kuteesa back as he apparently tried to throw another punch at the South African events coordinator.
Kwamboka screamed: 'You hit a woman, dude. How can you do that?'
Despite the ugly scenes, M-Net producers have refused to remove Kuteesa from the house.
Instead the entrepreneur was ticked him off about his behaviour in the diary room.
Admitting he had acted out of turn, the Ugandan apologised for his actions.
He said: 'I'm sorry for how I reacted. I have a temper problem, but I won't use this as an excuse. Lerato, I am really sorry.'
Campaigners have argued that violence against women remains a significant issue across Africa.
Last year a Medical Research Council survey revealed that one in four South African men had admitted to raping a woman.
Experts believe domestic violence is boosted by the continuing acceptance of traditional gender hierarchies in societies across the continent.
Despite the furore, M-Net bosses have said they believed they had taken appropriate action over Tuesday's incident.
Today a spokeswoman confirmed Kuteesa was still in the house.
In an interview with South Africa's Times newspaper, publicist Lani Lombard added: 'Big Brother felt it necessary to consult psychologists and all the housemates before taking measures.
'M-Net will continue to take the appropriate actions when irresponsible behaviour results in a contravention of the game's rules.'
Big Brother Africa is broadcast from a purpose-built house in Johannesburg.
The reality franchise continues to be popular in many countries around the world.
The eleventh and final Channel Four series of the show ended in Britain last month.
It suffered a number of controversial episodes, including the notorious January 2007 race row involving Indian beauty Shilpa Shetty and the late Jade Goody.
Goody became a national hate figure for racially abusing Shetty, while in 2004 a contestant was thrown out for aggressive behaviour during an episode later dubbed Fight Night.
It has since been reported that the programme could be moved to Channel 5 from next year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCca5mPMp9A
