No SABC inquiry – parly

– Despite calls for an inquiry into the “chaos” and apparent censorship at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), parliament’s portfolio committee on communications decided yesterday a probe was not necessary.

This was after SABC bigwigs and Communications Minister Faith Muthambi sought to allay fears about a crisis at the public broadcaster as they faced off against MPs in parliament.

The board and minister were summoned to appear before parliament after the firing of editorial staff following a decision not to broadcast violent protests.

While the Freedom Front Plus only referred to it as “subtle censorship”, DA MP Phumzile van Damme was more scathing.

Van Damme said it was “laughable” that the state entity claimed it was not in crisis. Its finances, its editorial policy and staff management could hardly be lauded, she said. “In my opinion, all of you should be fired. There was utter chaos,” she added.

Muthambi defended the decision not to air violent visuals, arguing that the SABC was not a partner to “propaganda of war”.

Chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said banning violent images did not equate with censorship.

He argued that if a school was set alight, did the public need to see images of people being burnt alive? And similarly, if a person had been stabbed, did viewers need to see the blood?

Motsoeneng said the public broadcaster was responsible for setting its own editorial policy with the proviso that it could “can” visuals it did not approve of.

“I ask myself why people are so obsessed with the SABC? Then I say, why should I listen to you because you don't pay us?"

New SABC board CEO James Aguma denied there was chaos.

Referring to the decision to stop reading out newspaper headlines, Aguma said newspapers were commercial entities and if they wanted advertising they had to pay for it.

After the meeting, chairperson Humphrey Maxegwana welcomed the assurance that there had not been a shift in editorial policy.

Despite this, the committee cautioned the SABC against making decisions that might be interpreted as censoring of news.

Referring to the seven journalists who were fired and reinstated, Maxegwana said a lesson had to be learnt from it.

“This incident has highlighted the importance of adherence to the labour laws.

“Had the SABC adhered to these laws the court case would not have been necessary,” said Maxegwana.

According to Aguma, there is about R171 million in reserve for contingency liability claims. However, R40 million had been budgeted for legal fees.