SABC’s sale of airtime to ‘interview’ minister slated

WITS University adjunct professor of journalism and media studies Anton Harber says the SABC’s sale of airtime to “interview” Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini undermined journalism.

This comes after the minister’s spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, confirmed the department paid, through the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), R149 000 to the SABC to host Dlamini on the public broadcaster’s SABC3 talk show.

Oliphant also confirmed that the department paid R5 million to the SABC for media exposure.

Harber said the fact that politicians were approaching the public broadcaster with “brown envelopes” was problematic for journalism.

“This is a low point for South African journalism. For the national broadcaster to take payment for an interview with a prominent politician and not to tell the audience breaks every rule of journalism, every code of conduct, every professional principle, including the SABC’s own editorial charge and the industry code,” said Harber.

He called on the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to intervene and stop the practice of buying interviews with politicians.

“The SABC needs to hold an open and independent inquiry into this practice, clarify its rules and guidelines, and act to ensure that this cannot happen,” he added.

GCIS acting directorgeneral Phumla Williams said they acted only on briefs received from departments. She said she had no knowledge of R5m paid to the GCIS for media exposure.

Political parties have also weighed in, criticising Dlamini and demanding she personally pay for the interview.

EFF national spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the SABC must return the money paid for the interview as it was “complicit in the corruption of the minister”.

The DA’s Phumzile van Damme said the SABC and Dlamini were breaching Icasa’s regulations by not informing viewers the show was sponsored by the Department of Social Development.

It breaks every code of conduct, every professional principle