Coalition to address SABC problems
This follows a meeting convened by the Media Monitoring Project (MMP) and the Open Society Foundation on Tuesday to deal with "the current crisis at the SABC".
Developments include the suspension and court-ordered reinstatement of group CEO Dali Mpofu, the suspension and forthcoming conciliation and mediation hearing of suspended group head of news Snuki Zikalala and disputes over the appointment of the current board.
"The main objective of public broadcasting is to serve the public and therefore we want to reclaim our public broadcaster, the SABC, for the public," their statement said.
They resolved to form a coalition to campaign for the strengthening of public broadcasting, made up of a range of civil society, media groups, unions and the public to address the mid- and long-term issues.
Measures would include identifying options to deal with the crises affecting SABC management, its board and the parliamentary portfolio committee on communication; following up on the blacklisting complaint lodged by the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) with the Independent Communications Authority of SA to ensure compliance by the SABC of its charter and licence conditions; drafting recommendations on an SABC Act including ownership structure, character and appointment of the board, executive management, funding and charter, and to call upon the communications committee to "exercise its constitutionally mandated oversight role effectively".
A working committee has been established, to take this process forward.
Others present at Tuesday’s meeting were: the FXI, the Media Institute of Southern Africa, the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, the Black Film Makers Network, Wits University’s Journalism and Media Studies Departments, the University of Pretoria’s Law Department, the National Consumer Forum, the Southern African Litigation Centre, Sangonet, Oxfam, Bemawu, the Interpress Service, MCM Digital Media and the Afrimap project.
The "blacklisting" report refers to a period when the broadcaster decided not to use certain political commentators.
Loading ...