JOHANNESBURG, July 5 (ANA) – The African National Congress on Tuesday distanced itself from a decision by the public broadcaster to ban the airing of footage of violent service delivery protests, and at the same time blasting SABC management for its lack of leadership.
Addressing journalists in Johannesburg, ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu, who also chairs the ANC national executive committee’s subcommittee on communications, said the party was never consulted about the decision to not air images of violent service delivery protests, nor were the people consulted.
"The ANC stands opposed to any actions that infringe on our people’s rights to hear and see what they want to hear and see. The ANC also stands opposed to any infringement of journalists’ rights to practice their craft," Mthembu said, referring to the suspension and charging of several editorial staff at the broadcaster who voiced their concerns over censorship at the SABC.
Mthembu denied that the ANC was behind several editorial decisions being taken by controversial SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, adding that several developments at the broadcaster "can definitely not continue in the name of the African National Congress and the countless South Africans who paid the highest…for the freedoms all of us enjoy today".
He lashed out at SABC management for its lack of leadership.
"At the highest managerial level we are lacking, that’s why we keep on moving from one crisis to another," said Mthembu.
"When you go to mid-level, you go to the reporting levels, you have expertise in abundance but that expertise is messed up by lack of expertise in senior levels, no wonder you get such decisions being made."
– African News Agency (ANA)
