‘President’s address to nation sabotaged’
THE SABC has concluded that President Cyril Ramaphosa was being sabotaged when an incorrect pre-recorded speech about violence in the country was flighted on its Full View programme last week.
The broadcaster has since taken a decision to act against implicated employees.
In a statement issued yesterday, the broadcaster said its preliminary investigation into the incident revealed that material for the 6pm broadcast of the President’s pre-recorded address was prepared in good time on September 5 to ensure a clean transmission.
However, unauthorised changes were effected without any communication to the news desk.
“Consequently, the programme published and played the rehearsal clip from President Ramaphosa’s recorded address to the nation, instead of the final version,” read the statement.
The president was delivering an address last Thursday on the violent attacks and gender-based violence incidents witnessed by the country in the past week.
In the footage Ramaphosa is heard saying: “Let’s start again, I made a mistake there” (in his address).
“On that day, the SABC news office in parliament had earlier sent the feed capturing both the rehearsal and final speech of the president to the Line Records desk.
“Those involved in production activities were all warned in advance that they should disregard the rehearsal clip.
“The SABC now has strong prima facie evidence indicating that the broadcast of the incorrect clip was a well-considered and co-ordinated act of sabotage to bring the SABC and consequently the President into disrepute,” the statement read.
The public broadcaster said it has given three implicated employees, two permanent employees and an unscheduled freelancer an opportunity to make written representations as to why disciplinary steps should not be instituted against them.
It has confirmed to have received representations and, after due consideration, decided to suspend the trio.
The public broadcaster’s group chief executive officer, Madoda Mxakwe slammed the acts by the trio and said: “The SABC will not tolerate any acts or omissions that bring the public broadcaster into disrepute, and undermine efforts to eradicate systemic problems of malfeasance and maladministration plaguing the institution,” he said.
SABC news and current affairs group executive, Phathiswa Magopeni said: “Any employee found to be involved in clandestine activities aimed at undoing the ongoing work to restore the credibility of the public news service will be dealt with accordingly within the confines of the SABC’s human resources and disciplinary policies”.
The second phase of the investigation into the incident is still under way.
Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko could not be reached for comment last night.