Cabinet ‘needs SABC reality check’

THE cabinet’s response to the crisis at the SABC was out of touch with reality and showed how divided the ANC was, media activists said yesterday.

This was after the cabinet confirmed its support for media freedom, but took no position on the decision by SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng to ban coverage of violent protests and destruction of property or the suspension of journalists opposed to the move.

While the cabinet said the role of the public broadcaster was “vital for the development of our young democracy”, it said the “discussion” over the SABC’s editorial decisions should be “held in a constructive manner that would serve to strengthen our democracy”. It expressed its confidence the SABC would “continue to serve the interests of all the people of South Africa”.

Lawyers for Media Monitoring Africa and the SOS: Support Public Broadcasting campaign, among the other organisations that complained to the Independent Communications Authority of SA about Motsoeneng’s ban, have asked for a ruling on the matter by Icasa to be made public. The ruling has been submitted to the Icasa council, but was not released on Thursday, as expected.

Media Monitoring Africa executive director William Bird said the cabinet’s suggestion there was a “discussion” over the ban amounted to a denial of the reality that it was censorship and lent it legitimacy. See page 7