Idols South Africa Controversy

In the 2010 version of South African Idols, a judge (Mara Louw) said that the win was not totally fair. She basically said that it was a racial win and therefore not fair. She said white people voted for the white winner and black people couldn't vote for the black runner-up because they don't have access to the TV channel which showed the competition.

I know we like being diplomatic and friendly about these things and all, but I personally tend to agree with her not particularly for her reasons but for others as well. I cannot necessarily know if whites vote for whites and blacks vote for blacks, but it's a tendency which I would say is there - to support your own.

There were white people who say they voted for the black runner-up, L'loyd, and I have no reason not to believe them. I know for certain though that there are black people who also liked L'loyd BUT who didn't vote for him. So for me, I wouldn't say that the issue lies only with having access to the TV channel, but with access to voting as well. Of course we do have cellphones to vote with, but do we have airtime to "waste" on voting? I want to believe that most of us (blacks) have that mentality that we have money for "better" things. If you gave us a free way to vote, like through our remotes or something, then you'd see!

I mean I watched their final performances but didn't vote for L'loyd even though I though he was better. L'loyd's own wife and close friends don't have access to the TV channel, now what about 500 sms's? I say 500 sms's because some white woman claims to have sent 300 votes for the winner, Elvis, all by herself. How many more could've done that also?

So, either get

1. a free way to vote, or
2. a well represented panel of judges (2 blacks, 2 whites, etc.) who will do the voting themselves, or
3. a well represented audience (25% black, 25% white, 25% coloured, 25% indian, etc.) who will do the voting, or
4. whatever else that will work better

Someone (a white Afrikaner elderly man) once told me that he is racist simply because he wants his racial practices and values to be held up higher than others, and not because he hates other races. He seemed to think it was right and fair and still does. If that's the way to go then we will always have this type of competition. Somehow, I think that's what happened with Idols. Nobody hated L'loyd, but nobody (I don't want to name races) wanted Elvis to loose!

Has racism really disappeared?