“We can not allow for such a critical institution to remain captured by Jacob Zuma’s cronies, there only to serve their masters, and not the South African people”.
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Matthews then spilled the beans about chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s power grab and the climate of fear at the SABC.
Mthembu insisted that the ANC was never alerted about any policy changes within the SABC.
“This follows former SABC acting CEO, Jimmy Matthews’ confirmation – during an exclusive interview – that there was deliberate intervention in the editorial decisions regarding coverage for opposition political parties”, DA spokesperson, Phumzile van Damme said.
The African National Congress (ANC) has since called for a meeting with Communications Minister Faith Muthambi to demand answers about changes made at the public broadcaster. We have said to all our appointed ministers at communication, you need to assure that we have people who know how to run an institution as big as the SABC at the highest level.
“We are not saying this dismissing the good quality we have at other levels…”
During a picket outside the broadcaster’s Johannesburg offices, Mapaila said the ANC’s decision to stand against censorship and the reviewed editorial policy at the public broadcaster was welcomed.
The ANC has categorically denied having any business interest in the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
Speaking at Luthuli House on Tuesday, Jackson Mthembu, ANC chief whip and chairman of the party subcommittee on communications, made a surprise announcement, sternly criticising SABC leadership and its decision taken in May not to air footage of violent protests.
“The fact that those in charge have successively been accused of this (political interference) is worrying”, he said.
ANC Spokesman Zizi Kodwa said it opened a debate on the media’s role in nation building and the decision shouldn’t be seen as censorship.
The three journalists had disagreed with an instruction during a diary conference not to cover the Right2Know campaign’s protest against censorship at the public broadcaster earlier that week.
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“If we did not have any control over the minister what would be the objective of calling her?” asked Mthembu.
