By Tiso Black Star Group DIGITAL
The public protector has launched a preliminary investigation into the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
Advocate Thuli Madonsela confirmed that her office had been asked to probe the state broadcaster‚ in an interview with Eyewitness News on Monday.
She has written a letter to Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and the SABC board to “find out what’s happening in terms of governance‚ alleged governance failures”.
Muthambi will meet the African National Congress’ communications commission – which criticised a decision by the SABC not to screen images of violent protests around the country – on Monday.
President Jacob Zuma was asked‚ on Friday‚ to constitute a judicial commission of inquiry into the state broadcaster. And‚ in another development‚ the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa is expected to rule this week on the broadcaster’s decision not to air protest footage.
Trade union Solidarity‚ which represents three SABC employees who were suspended for distancing themselves from a related “censorship” decree‚ will approach the Constitutional Court in the next few days to test the constitutionality of the instruction.
Thandeka Gqubule‚ Foeta Krige and Suna Venter were supposed to appear at a disciplinary hearing on Monday but the hearing was cancelled indefinitely.
They face disciplinary charges for distancing themselves from an instruction by management not to cover protests by the Right2Know campaign — against SABC censorship.
Disciplinary hearings against three other three employees‚ Busisiwe Ntuli‚ Jacques Steenkamp and Krivani Pillay‚ have also been postponed. They sent a letter to SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng‚ objecting to the editorial direction the SABC had taken.
“The censorship instruction is clearly unlawful. It is in direct violation of the principles of freedom of speech and the public’s right to know. The unlawfulness of the instruction makes the entire suspension unlawful‚” said the union’s chief executive Dirk Hermann.
“We cannot allow it that journalists who merely want to do their job remain suspended for having embraced South Africa’s constitutional principles. What adds to the urgency and significance of this case is the fact that South Africans are going to the polls on 3 August‚ and they have the right to know what is happening in the country. It is not up to the public broadcaster to decide what the public may or may not know‚” he said.
Madonsela to ask SABC board to explain ‘governance failures’
The public protector has launched a preliminary investigation into the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
Advocate Thuli Madonsela confirmed that her office had been asked to probe the state broadcaster‚ in an interview with Eyewitness News on Monday.
She has written a letter to Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and the SABC board to “find out what’s happening in terms of governance‚ alleged governance failures”.
Muthambi will meet the African National Congress’ communications commission – which criticised a decision by the SABC not to screen images of violent protests around the country – on Monday.
President Jacob Zuma was asked‚ on Friday‚ to constitute a judicial commission of inquiry into the state broadcaster. And‚ in another development‚ the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa is expected to rule this week on the broadcaster’s decision not to air protest footage.
Trade union Solidarity‚ which represents three SABC employees who were suspended for distancing themselves from a related “censorship” decree‚ will approach the Constitutional Court in the next few days to test the constitutionality of the instruction.
Thandeka Gqubule‚ Foeta Krige and Suna Venter were supposed to appear at a disciplinary hearing on Monday but the hearing was cancelled indefinitely.
They face disciplinary charges for distancing themselves from an instruction by management not to cover protests by the Right2Know campaign — against SABC censorship.
Disciplinary hearings against three other three employees‚ Busisiwe Ntuli‚ Jacques Steenkamp and Krivani Pillay‚ have also been postponed. They sent a letter to SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng‚ objecting to the editorial direction the SABC had taken.
“The censorship instruction is clearly unlawful. It is in direct violation of the principles of freedom of speech and the public’s right to know. The unlawfulness of the instruction makes the entire suspension unlawful‚” said the union’s chief executive Dirk Hermann.
“We cannot allow it that journalists who merely want to do their job remain suspended for having embraced South Africa’s constitutional principles. What adds to the urgency and significance of this case is the fact that South Africans are going to the polls on 3 August‚ and they have the right to know what is happening in the country. It is not up to the public broadcaster to decide what the public may or may not know‚” he said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos