Don’t touch me on my studio!

Race relations and the remnants of apartheid in South Africa are so complex and deeply rooted that trying to make sense thereof can make your head spin at times.

So with the outbursts of the last month from Julius Malema, calling a BBC correspondent a “bastard” and “bloody agent”; and the murder of Eugene Terre’Blanche causing racial divides – it was wonderful to see how South Africans were able to see the funny side of things.

The phrase “Don’t touch me on my studio” went viral immediately after a racially tense moment on the Africa360 show a few weeks ago. It was no joke in the eNews studios, however, when anchor Chris Maroleng was forced to intervene in an on-air scrap between AWB secretary-general André Visagie and political analyst, Lebohang Pheko.

The two were discussing race relations in the aftermath of the murder of AWB leader, Terre’Blanche. Tempers flared when Pheko confronted Visagie about the abuse of farm workers in South Africa, and did not allow him to respond.

Visagie became hot under the collar, telling Pheko not to interrupt him, before ripping off his microphone and storming off the set.

But it was Maroleng’s repeated statement to Visagie, “Don’t touch me on my studio, don’t you dare touch me on my studio (sic)”, and the AWB member’s adamant response, “I’ll touch you on your studio”, which left the country in stitches.

The recorded altercation, particularly the “studio” phrase, has become the joke of the month on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and in e-mails, with innuendos about what exactly Maroleng’s ‘studio’ was.

The video received more than 50 000 YouTube hits in less than 24 hours, and dialogue from the clip since has been remixed with the MC Hammer song, “Can’t Touch This”.

Our creative-minded countrymen (and women) even have taken the phrase into clever “Motivational” posters doing the e-mail rounds, and the sharp marketing people at Virgin Active wasted no time getting in on the act, too. I am sure the naughty ad people at Nando’s will follow the trend shortly.

I find it refreshing that we all can find the humour in what is really still quite a serious issue in our country.

“You touched me on my studio” now officially is entrenched in our South African culture and I am sure it will be the pick-up line of choice for many for at least a while after this charming incident.

Robbie Stammers