South Africa Alert
14 July 2010
Acting SABC Head of News in censorship turmoil

In the light of recent developments at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on the acting Head of News Phil Molefe’s decision to launch a complete ban over any coverage of former president Thabo Mbeki on the public broadcasters channels and radio stations to senior news executives, has sparked questionable unethical behavioural editorial decisions within the broadcasters news department.

Reports have revealed that the acting Head of News decision amounts to censorship. This was sparked by an interview the public broadcaster had with Mbeki after Ghana’s World Cup quarterfinal victory over the United States of America (USA). The instruction is believed to have came from the ruling party African National Congress (ANC) headquarters, Luthuli House. Ordering senior news executives that Mbeki’s appearance on SABC channels “undermined” his successor, President Jacob Zuma. However, in response Kaizer Kganyago, SABC spokesman described the reports as a totally false, malicious and intended to mislead without basis.

SABC chairman Ben Ngubane said, “I will find out what is happening” and launch an investigation as Molefe has not informed me about the decision that the article on The Sunday Times newspaper is suggesting. A senior executive who spoke on condition of anonymity said the issue cropped up when a journalist suggested that Mbeki be interviewed in connection with the conviction of Jackie Selebi, the former National Commissioner of Police and former head of Interpol. This did not amount to gagging the former president, the executive said, adding that the SABC had no reason to gag him.

Molefe ruled out the decision, suggesting the current administration should be the one interviewed about the Selebi conviction. Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance seek to see Molefe appear before parliament portfolio committee on communications to explain the “disturbing and scandalous” reports that he had banned Mbeki form SABC television and radio channels, on instruction from Luthuli House.

While the FXI welcomes the SABC board’s promise to fully investigate the new allegations that Acting Head of News Phil Molefe banned senior news executives from using interviews with Mr Mbeki, these developments appear to indicate that censorship continues to be a problem at the public broadcaster. The SABC has a mandate to represent the full spectrum of South African society, in a manner that is free from political or other bias. To ensure that the public broadcaster does not become diluted into a state organ subject to the whims of those in political power, it is critical that the SABC withstands pressures that may result in censorship and that the board strongly defend the broadcaster’s independence.

MISA-South Africa position, we again note the very serious allegations of censorship at the broadcaster relating to this latest editorial policy saga with previous allegations on the governance and SABC deputy chairman Felleng Sekha. MISA-SA calls on the SABC board to investigate allegations in this regard – and in particular clarity around the role of Phil Molefe’s decision. The SABC must utter to the general public on these issues. It is critical that the broadcaster cultivate a culture of transparency and communication. SABC’s main stakeholder is the public, hence the broadcaster needs to ensure that its decision making and governance processes are transparent to the general public.

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