This experience of Africa 360 current affairs TV programme host in South Africa brings to the fore the intricate matter of managing hostile studio guests. Clearly, things can get out of hand.
Typical perhaps of all hard-line politicians, Andre Visagie, the Secretary General of the white supremacist Afrikaner outfit AWB, sought to forcefully defend his views, irrespective of whether they were fair comment, on the explosive race relation subject.
And the political commentator Lebohang Pheko was unrelenting in her push to pin down the visibly agitated Visagie, stressing that his argument was out of line.
And caught in between is the host Chris Maroleng, momentarily reduced to a spectator before the dramatic transition of the debate into an outburst, walkout and threats.
Ideally, the programme host should act as a moderator, constantly watching out for rising temperatures and actively seeking to cool down the tempers in timely interjections.
When the host is not in control, anything goes. Chris should have noticed the besieged Vasigie showing signs of turning violent and perhaps change the subject by asking a different question.
The lesson to me here, plainly speaking, is that a programme host cannot afford to be passive, especially in an explosive debate but should instead steer the discussion proactively but not in a reactionary manner.
And yes. It may be desirable for the media to seek to be all inclusive and accommodative to divergent views. But that in essence, is also inviting insensitive or intolerable views, in the name of safeguarding the freedom of expression.
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