SOUTH AFRICAN COZ

You missed the point in your Outtakes item on the success of “The Cosby Show” in South Africa (Feb. 2). The irony is that NBC and Bill Cosby would sell the show to South Africa.

Television programs are products just like Coca-Cola. “Cosby” is making lots of money for NBC, Bill Cosby and the South African television industry, a network whose channels mirror the apartheid system. And its money that keeps the system afloat.

Cosby wouldn’t perform at Sun City, South Africa’s segregated version of Las Vegas. Then why is he on South Africa’s white television channels?

The “Cosby” show doesn’t help blacks in South Africa because it isn’t shown on their tribal-language channels. And it doesn’t change the minds of race-conscious South Africans.

Divest from South Africa, Bill Cosby and NBC. Apartheid is no laughing matter.

TIM UNGER

Claremont