SABC to cut COPE coverage
CHRIS BATHEMBU
JOHANNESBURG - The SABC has slashed live TV coverage of the Congress of the People’s (COPE’s) manifesto launch in Port Elizabeth this weekend, despite earlier indications that the event was to be covered.
In a letter to COPE yesterday, the SABC’s Xolani Xundu said a news management meeting took a decision to cross live to the COPE’s manifesto launch for just five minutes tomorrow.
The SABC gave the ANC extensive live coverage when it launched its manifesto in East London two weeks ago.
This is seen as a blow to COPE, which is expected to parade high-profile leaders who defected from the ruling party.
Among them are former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and businessman Saki Macozoma.
COPE is appealing the decision.
Spokesman Sipho Ngwema said: “We have been reliably informed that the SABC has been under a lot of pressure from Luthuli House not to give us full coverage.”
Ngwema claimed that some ANC leaders had issued the SABC management an “ultimatum” after the COPE inaugural launch in Bloemfontein was given full coverage.
Ngwema said since then the SABC’s coverage of COPE had dropped.
“Our manifesto rally passes all the tests in terms of newsworthiness and public interest but does not pass the ANC test,” Ngwema said.
The ANC has denied any link to the saga.
Spokesman Carl Niehaus initially laughed when contacted by The Citizen on the matter.
He later said: “This is cheap propaganda from COPE.
“It’s nonsense. If they have a problem with the SABC they should sort it out.”
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