{"id":128191,"date":"2016-06-27T10:22:54","date_gmt":"2016-06-27T08:22:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=128191"},"modified":"2016-06-27T10:40:30","modified_gmt":"2016-06-27T08:40:30","slug":"sabc-ceo-quits-what-is-happening-at-the-sabc-is-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/128191\/sabc-ceo-quits-what-is-happening-at-the-sabc-is-wrong\/","title":{"rendered":"SABC CEO quits: “What is happening at the SABC is wrong”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acting SABC CEO Jimi Matthews has resigned from the broadcaster, it was reported<\/a>\u00a0on Monday.<\/p>\n

The executive did not mince words in his resignation letter, which he posted on Twitter.<\/p>\n

Addressed to Prof Mbulaheni Maguvhe, chairman of the SABC Board, Matthews said in his letter that the “corrosive atmosphere” at the broadcaster has negatively impacted his moral judgement.<\/p>\n

He said he had become complicit in decisions which he had not been proud of.<\/p>\n

Under the leadership of COO Hlaudi Motsoenening, the SABC has taken a firm stance towards any news items that paint the government in a negative light.<\/p>\n

Most notable was the broadcaster’s decision to outright censor any footage of “violent protests”, as well as any other media coverage bringing attention to civil unrest across the country.<\/p>\n

The broadcaster has suspended three senior journalists who refused to abide by the censorship policy.<\/p>\n

“For many months I have compromised the values that I hold dear,” Matthews said.<\/p>\n

“What is happening at the SABC is wrong, and I can no longer be a part of it.”<\/p>\n

Read the full letter below.<\/p>\n

Prof Maguvhe
\nChair of the SABC Board<\/p>\n

Dear Sir,<\/p>\n

It is with great sadness that I tender my immediate resignation. For many months I have compromised the values that I hold dear under the mistaken belief that I could be more effective inside the SABC than outside, passing comment from the side-lines.<\/p>\n

In the process the prevailing corrosive atmosphere has impacted negatively on my moral judgement and has made me complicit in many decision which I am not proud of.<\/p>\n

I wish also to apologise to the many people who I’ve let down by remaining silent when my voice needed to be heard.<\/p>\n

What is happening at the SABC is wrong and I can no longer be a part of it.<\/p>\n

Yours sincerely,<\/p>\n

Jimi Matthews
\nGroups CEO (Acting)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

I have quit the SABC. pic.twitter.com\/ZIwa7K5z9c<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 jimi matthews (@jimimatthews) June 27, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n