SABC: is this the worst board ever?

On the day that the SA Broadcasting Corp (SABC) fired its eighth journalist for standing up to COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the public broadcaster’s own incarnation of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, the broadcaster’s chairman Prof Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe slammed the phone down on the Financial Mail.

Apparently alarmed at being confronted by a journalist, Maguvhe muttered, “I’m very much busy, I’m sorry”, before hanging up.

It’s a fitting metaphor for the Unisa professor’s tenure as chairman of the broadcaster, in which the main impression Maguvhe leaves you with is that, at best, he’s AWOL. At worst, he’s delinquent.

As chairman, Maguvhe should be the one raising the alarm because the editor-in-chief — a role which Motsoeneng has characteristically seized for himself — is in stark violation of SA’s press code.

In perhaps the most damning indictment of the SABC as at any time since democracy, new allegations in the constitutional court application by eight suspended journalists paint a picture of Motsoeneng as a blatant propaganda artist for President Jacob Zuma.

This comes from the most crucial line of their application, in which the journalists record what happened at an SABC workshop, held in the picturesque Magaliesburg on June 6 and 7.

There, Motsoeneng told the journalists: “I’m in charge, you must adhere to my instruction . . . you can question everyone (ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe et al) except our president. We need to respect him — especially you, SABC.”

Now many will simply write off Motsoeneng as a clown, a fraudulent caricature whose notions of media freedom wouldn’t look out of place in North Korea or even Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

But it’s no joke. Not only does Motsoeneng’s order to sugarcoat coverage on Zuma violate almost every principle of journalism in the book, it’s a thumping rejection of every facet of media freedom in the ANC’s own playbook of freedom of speech.

The press code states clearly that “the media shall not allow commercial, political, personal or other nonprofessional considerations to influence or slant reporting”.

The press code says the media’s duty is to report without “material omissions”, and journalists may comment on “any actions or event of public interest”.

Clearly, this includes holding the president — a man whose abuse of power is evident from numerous documents — to account. Take public protector Thuli Madonsela’s report, or the constitutional court judgment that found Zuma had failed to “uphold, defend and respect” the constitution.

With those sorts of critiques flying around, you can understand why Zuma might want a flunkey like Motsoeneng in a strategically advantageous position.

Of course, these new accusations of abusing the state machinery to protect the president takes the SABC debate into far more serious territory. In particular, it has profound implications for Maguvhe and his board. Every day on which members of the SABC board, who are in charge of oversight at the broadcaster, remain asleep at the wheel, their reputations diminish.

This week, the SABC board oversaw the decision to axe the eight brave journalists who stood up to Motsoeneng — Vuyo Mvoko‚ Thandeka Gqubule‚ Busisiwe Ntuli, Lukhanyo Calata, Krivani Pillay‚ Jacques Steenkamp‚ Foeta Krige and Suna Venter.

It’s not just Maghuve who should carry this on his conscience; it’s the entire board.

Some might argue the fault really lies with communications minister Faith Muthambi. But she’s already a dead loss. The sooner this minister is axed from her position, the better for the country.

However, there are some other people with impressive CVs on the SABC board whose reputations will become immeasurably poorer after this episode plays out.

Vusi Mavuso, for example, who reportedly opposed Motsoeneng’s appointment in the first place, remains on the board as a nonexecutive director. So too does former anti-apartheid lawyer Krish Naidoo.

Unless the few good people left in Auckland Park act now, their chief claim to fame will be that they were the people asleep at the wheel while the SABC burnt.