DA angry over SABC airtime

[LazyLion]

Live SABC television coverage of a speech by President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday night smacked of electioneering, the Democratic Alliance said.

"In fact, the president's speech sounded much like an election speech," party spokesman Mmusi Maimane said on Thursday.

"He used the opportunity to rattle off a list of supposed government achievements."

Maimane said he would insist on an explanation from SABC head of news Jimi Matthews.

Zuma was speaking at a Black Business Council dinner at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. He spoke of the country's achievements in the past 19 years.

"We state without fear of contradiction that South Africa is a much better place now than it was before 1994, thanks to the hard work of South Africans," he said.

Maimane described the live coverage as political abuse of the national broadcaster a few months before the 2014 general elections.

Attempts to get comment from the SABC were unsuccessful.


Source : Sapa /kn/hdw/ks/th
Date : 01 Aug 2013 19:04

 

[Picard]

The ANC is unscrupulous.

If nobody calls attention to the evil ways of the ANC, nobody of the ANC would volunteer it ... because they are all corrupt.

 

[sox63]

Hypocracy from the DA IMO, I've seen countless tv interviews of Zille "rattling off" achievements in the WC. That's what politicians do when they have airtime...

 

[Sinbad]

Hypocracy from the DA IMO, I've seen countless tv interviews of Zille "rattling off" achievements in the WC. That's what politicians do when they have airtime...

There is a difference between a news story and a live televised speech

 

[sox63]

There is a difference between a news story and a live televised speech

I think you'll find Zille has had numerous live speeches too. Case in point, the speech that led to their Gupta funnding drama...

 

[Creag]

Maimane said he would insist on an explanation from SABC head of news Jimi Matthews.

DA, you're wasting your time and money on this. Trust me, it is better spent on things that will get you headlines than bashing your head against a brick wall.

 

[Johnone]

I saw Jacob Zuma giving a speech on tv that night, and switched channels: I wasn't ready to fall asleep.

Much ado about nothing, IMO. Do people actually listen to his speeches? He bores me endlessly.

 

[Cool E]

Damm this guy must focus of winning voters to his party than just "opposing anything" that goverment does. He was supposed to switch to another channel like 304

 

[Cool E]

I saw Jacob Zuma giving a speech on tv that night, and switched channels: I wasn't ready to fall asleep.

Much ado about nothing, IMO. Do people actually listen to his speeches? He bores me endlessly.

Yes da does

 

[TelkomUseless]

Zuma can't even read a speech properly.

 

[intel8080]

Zuma can't even read a speech properly.

Irrelevant! After 20 years of ANC rule, neither can his intended audience WTF Welcome to the new South AFRICA.

 

[Solarion]

Irrelevant! After 20 years of ANC rule, neither can his intended audience WTF Welcome to the new South AFRICA.

You are rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrracist!!!!!!!!!

 

[STS]

DA = cry baby

Disclaimer: Still voting for them

 

[STS]

Irrelevant! After 20 years of ANC rule, neither can his intended audience WTF Welcome to the new South AFRICA.

I see you're a victim of this regime too, i am truly sorry

 

[Cool E]

DA = cry baby = nanny party

Disclaimer: Still voting for them

lol

 

[STS]

lol

Before i get labeled as an ANC supporter again

 

[Sinbad]

DA to request meeting with SABC Head of News over special Zuma broadcast by @MaimaneAM Mmusi Maimane – DA National Spokesperson

On Wednesday night the SABC interrupted normal programming to give live coverage to a speech that President Jacob Zuma was delivering at a dinner function.

I will request a meeting with Head of News at the SABC, Jimmy Matthews, over this special live broadcast granted to President Zuma.

It is unclear why the speech was afforded live coverage. There was no new announcement in the speech, or indeed anything that would ordinarily be considered newsworthy. In fact, the President's speech sounded much like an election speech - he used the opportunity to rattle off a list of supposed government achievements.
On the face of it, last night's broadcast amounts to nothing more than political abuse of the national broadcaster. This is unacceptable at any time, but particularly so just months before a national election.

President Zuma faces a tough election - he is deeply unpopular, more South Africans are unemployed now than when he first took office, and there are many unanswered questions about his personal conduct and the riches he has accumulated in office. But the President is not entitled to abuse the public broadcaster to drum up support for his party.
The SABC leadership must explain:
- on what basis the decision was made to cover this speech live
- why it could not be reported on in normal news bulletins
- what particular announcement or newsworthy factor in the speech made it worth live coverage in prime time
- how the SABC will avoid further such abuses in the run up to the 2014 election
- whether the same courtesy will be offered to other the leaders of other national political parties
I will write to the SABC to request this meeting at which I will seek explanations on these questions.

 

[grok]

"We state without fear of contradiction that South Africa is a much better place now than it was before 1994, thanks to the hard work of South Africans," he said.

So glad he didn't say government 'cos that would have been an outright lie ..

 

[Paperweight]

This is so weird. All around the world news stations cover events of presidents and prime ministers. I'm not sure why this should be different?

 

[Cool E]

I am glad that musi was watching sabc news instead of idols (channel 199)