Singer obtains order barring satirist and his puppet from making any statements about him, after accusations of racism

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A South African ventriloquist says he will challenge a gagging order against his puppet.

Comedian Conrad Koch said he strongly denied allegations made by musician Steve Hofmeyr that tweets criticising the singer amounted to hate speech.

Hofmeyr said he had obtained a court order barring the satirist and his puppet, Chester Missing, from making any statements about him in public or on social media.

Hofmeyr was reacting to a series of tweets from the puppet criticising the singer for what he described as racism. Hofmeyr tweeted to about 121,000 followers that the ruling African National Congress was victimising white South Africans.

Koch and his puppet are known for controversial political commentary.

Chester Missing’s broad brown face is familiar on South African television where he is known for provocative, funny comments on politics and racial issues. Missing asks South African politicians questions that few others would dare.

Hofmeyer said the tweets, which came from the Twitter account of the puppet, accused him of racism. He said he obtained a court order barring the ventriloquist and his puppet from making any statements about him in public or on social media.

The ventriloquist said he would not comment directly on the order, “out of respect for court processes”.

“I don’t admit to the allegations and will be opposing them strongly, very strongly,” he said. The case will be heard in a Johannesburg magistrates court on 27 November, according to a statement from the singer.

The singer had tweeted to about 121,000 followers on 3 November that the ruling African National Congress was victimising white South Africans. In a related Facebook statement where he discussed the merits of segregation under apartheid, the singer wrote: “Apartheid was cruel, unfortunate and unsustainable, but WHAT inspired that maddening segregation?”

In response, the ventriloquist began a campaign calling on sponsors to remove their support from the singer and asking South Africans to boycott any commercial brand associated with him. A local car dealership said it removed the singer’s sponsored car.

One of South Africa’s largest supermarket chains said in a statement that while it “rejects Steve Hofmeyr’s comments on apartheid”, it would not revoke sponsorship of a festival where Hofmeyr is to perform.

The ventriloquist and his popular puppet, known for controversial political commentary, still perform on South African television and on stage. Nevertheless, he said the court order has affected his act.

“I do feel like I’m cautious about what I say,” he said. “I talk about race and culture all the time.”