SABC snaps back at the ANC
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) says that comments made by the ANC over its policies are both misleading and incorrect.
ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said the fact that decisions were made at the public broadcaster without consultation – including the blackout of violent protests – has irked the party.
He said that the recent changes at the SABC amounts to a change in the policy direction of the ruling party.
“We want the policy reversed … decisions like these need extensive public participation. I can tell you, as the chief whip of a majority party in Parliament, I did not know. The ANC was not informed,” said Mthembu.
The SABC said in a statement that it is “particularly concerned that some utterances made are misleading as at no point did the SABC say the decision not to broadcast the destruction of public property during the violent protests is a policy position”.
“The SABC would like to reiterate that the decision taken was an editorial decision and not a change of its editorial policy; therefore it is incorrect to insinuate that this was a policy issue.”
It said that its editorial decision is informed amongst other things by the BCCSA’s code of conduct where it articulates the issue of violence and hate speech.
“It should be noted that the decision is not to censor any violent protests but not to glamorise the act of burning public property. The aftermath of the burnt property will however be shown.”
The chairperson of the SABC board, Professor Mbulaheni Maguvhe stated that strategies put in place, and sanctioned by the board have worked for the organisation.
“These political tugs of war by different political parties are diversionary and intended to defocus the corporation from its mandate. We need to reiterate that we will not make any decisions that are aimed at censoring the news.”
“We are also aware of people with business interests who want to see the organization collapse in order to seize its commercial assets,” Maguvhe said.
Mthembu mainly blamed the current state of affairs at the SABC on a lack of expertise at top managerial level.
“It is the ANC’s considered view that the various crises engulfing the SABC are a consequence of a lack of leadership at the institution,” he said.
In response, the SABC said it has taken “serious exception to the insinuation that the board and management are not adequately educated, skilled and experienced in running of the organization”.
“The SABC leadership has all the required skills, experience and expertise to run the organization,” the broadcaster said.
“The SABC remains committed to rendering its public service mandate to the South African people and beyond irrespective of the continuous attacks on its credibility by the negative forces,” it said.
More on the SABC
ANC summons Muthambi to answer for SABC censorship fiasco
ANC is also a victim of SABC censorship: Mantashe
Former SABC execs write a letter to president Zuma
What it’s really like to work at the SABC under Motsoeneng: report
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