SABC crucial for free, fair elections

With the campaign season for general elections fast approaching, it is vital that all institutions that make free and fair polls possible function at their optimal best.

The current process to fill the vacant commissioner positions at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) appears to be going smoothly and will go a long way in ensuring that the outcome of next year’s vote is credible.

Central as it is in the running of the elections the IEC, however, is not the only institution needed to bring about free and fair elections.

Among the many other organisations whose conduct can impact on the outcome of the process both negatively and positively is the media.

Without an impartial and fair media the elections cannot be deemed to have been free and fair.

As a public broadcaster that has the greatest audience reach in South Africa and which communicates to South Africans in all official languages, the SABC is perhaps the most important media institution in this regard.

Its ability to carry out this duty has in recent years been hampered by political interference at board and management level, as well as a lack of stability at the executive level. We therefore congratulate the current SABC board for finally appointing a permanent group chief executive as well as chief financial officer.

We hope that these appointments will finally bring about the stability and professionalism at the executive level of the public broadcaster.

The two individuals, along with the group (chief) operations officer, are going to be the most powerful individuals at Auckland Park.

May they not abuse their power by turning the SABC into a mouthpiece of any political party or government institution. May they, instead, use it for the greater benefit of millions of viewers and listeners who rely on the public broadcaster in order for them to make informed decisions.

If they do so, they would not have only contributed to the stabilisation and restoration of credibility to an important organisation; but they would have greatly strengthened our democracy, as a stable and fiercely independent SABC would result in a better informed citizenry which makes its political choices based on information and not propaganda.