SABC’s frequency is jammed
Apart from being a waste of time and money (as the report was alread widely disseminated), it showed how far the SABC has strayed from the basic ethics and culture of journalism.
South Africa’s newspapers have had to deal with a rash of people using the courts to try and suppress sensitive information. Media organisations have stood together to oppose such bids. For the SABC to try to use the courts in this way puts it on the side of those who want to suppress and not reveal information.
CEO Dali Mpofu had got off to a good start in his task, asserting his authority by calling a commission of inquiry into allegations that his news boss, Dr Snumi Zikalala, had operated a blacklist of commentators who were too critical of government. He put two strong and credible personalities in charge of the inquiry, in respected former journalist Zwelakhe Sisulu and senior advocate Gilbert Marcus.
But since they delivered their report to him, Mpofu has lost his way. He has been jumping around, apparently trying to hide or explain away the damning evidence they presented, and pursuing his critics (like the M&G) rather than dealing with the contents of the report.
This is my appeal to Mpofu: forget about the publication of the report, and don’t even think about taking the case on review or encouraging your staff to sue the M&G. It is only a distraction and will only make you look more foolish. Of course it is inconvenient and irritating to you that the report should be published before you intended, but that is the nature of running a public broadcaster in an open society. Live with it.
Deal with the central issue, which is that you need a plan to change the operating culture of your newsroom, you need to instill the spirit of independent journalism among your staff, you need to get them back on track.
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