ANC complicit in breakdown at SABC: DA
Around 200 people protested outside Parliament on Tuesday to deliver a list of demands to ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembhu over the recent happenings at the SABC.
DA communications spokesperson Phumzile van Damme lead the picket in the wet Cape Town weather, saying Parliament needed to intervene in order to resolve the crisis engulfing the public broadcaster.
Four senior journalists were fired by the SABC on Monday, while another two journalists have since been fired on Tuesday.
“We are here today to picket in support of the four of the SABC 8 fired by Hlaudi Motsoeneng – Jacques Steenkamp, Krivani Pillay, Foeta Krige and Suna Venter,” Van Damme told the crowd.
“These were hard-working, committed, journalists who committed the ‘sin’ of standing up for the integrity of the SABC.
“We must continue mass rolling action until the integrity of the SABC is restored.
“We are also here today to demand action from Parliament.”
‘Mthembu has failed’
Van Damme also said had Mthembu failed in his duty to act as a function of oversight, by turning down the DA’s request for a special meeting of the Communications Committee to discuss the crisis.
“In doing so, Mthembu has failed to give effect to his constitutional obligation as a Member of Parliament to hold government accountable.
“He and the ANC are complicit in the complete breakdown of good governance at the SABC.
“He has made the institution of Parliament an accessory to this crime.
Van Damme said the DA would hand over a memorandum with 17 demands to Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and Mthembu’s parliamentary offices.
The demands include reinstating the fired SABC journalists, dropping the charges against the remaining journalists, implementing Icasa’s decision to reverse the ban on the airing of footage of violent protests, and to suspend SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
The protest ended around 11:15.
ANC refuses to comment on axing of SABC journalists
The ANC has refused to comment on Tuesday on the axing of eight SABC journalists.
When asked to comment on the shocking revelation that the SABC had fired its employees for “disrespecting” and “undermining” its management, ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said: “No comment.”
News24 then asked chairperson of the ANC National Executive Committee’s sub-committee on communications Jackson Mthembu who replied: “We are busy with elections now. I can’t comment… please ask Zizi Kodwa.”
On July 5, Mthembu held a press briefing at ANC headquarters at Luthuli House, where he said that the SABC was in contravention of the Constitution, as well as ANC policy.
Mthembu was reacting to SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s recent announcement on the SABC’s revised policy to no longer televise images of violent protests.
He said this was an unintelligent decision by the SABC.
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