Blah blah blah!!!!!

Dignity my sweet as*... the SABC has never given an objective report in its history, they are crying now cos they were caught!

Go Sunday Times, go!!!!!!!!!

Remember the days when the SAUK was the official 'spreekbuis' of the National Party? And when the printed press (Mail & Guardian, et al) were vilified for being too'leftist'?

So, surprise surprise - now we have the SABC as the official state broadcaster complaining about the 'right-wing' press that dares to criticise the ruling party and its incompetents perfecting acts of incompetence!

How the balance has shifted to suit the slighted.

What hasn't changed is the political posturing and puffed-up arrogance of the state broadcaster. It is just being perpetuated by a new regime.

to some extent/degree i fully agree with some points highlighted in the letter by Adv. Mpofu. Firstly, i fully agree that the Manto issue was in public interest but at the same time we need to remember that medical records are as private as private can be, her health is her problem and her concern, no one can ever have the right to look through any one persons medical records. Now i ask you this, if you were an executive director of a company does it mean that your employees have a right to know your health status, because it still is in their interest to know if you are healthy enough to run the organization or not, would it then be right to publish your medical records in the company newsletter?

The media did really go a step too far this time, I'm just wondering if it was not a stunt to push more numbers? The embarrasment the article has caused for the paper was absolutely not neccessary, now they look like a bunch of ammateurs after the court ruling. A dignified newspaper must report news that is fair and really cannot stoop to such low standards to obtaining someones medical records, it is a criminal offence and puts so much shame to such a respected newspaper. Such things make you wonder if there is anything such as dignity left in this country.

Another story falsely reported by the Sunday Times was the article about Cyril Ramaphosa, perhaps the newspaper needs to go back and check if they have qualified journos or not. In first year journalism your are taught the principles of being a dignified journo, and are introduced to the values of organizations such as SANEF. I am absolutely suprised and to some extent actually disappointed that they took no steps and just sat on the sidelines and watched.

I am so glad that my career did not end up in Journalism, the industry looks like a zoo, nothing to aspire to people are doing absolutely anything to make headlines but its sad that they dont realise that they are slowly loosing their credit.....

You can't even spell 'lose', you loose nut.

It seems every time the SA media falters and it is criticised, it is very quick to cry foul and lament that media freedom is under threat. This is a very self serving and misleading stance the media takes to hide its foibles. After reading the SABC letter, I remain steadfastly convinced that Sunday Times stooped very low and so did its contemporaries. Even the bizcommunity website refers to the letter as a blistering attack on SA media! Really?
I for one hold no brief for the Minister and based on her record in health related issues, she should be fired. But based on Sunday Times 's vitriolic, malicious and misleading reporting, I think not.

I would like something clarified. I don't think Sunday Times reported on Manto's health as much as they did on Manto's contribution to her declining health. Despite Sunday Times having access to her health records, they did not divulge information about the medical treatment she recieved but her behaviour in hospital while she was being treated. The second article basically stated that she is a thief and alcoholic and because of her alcoholism her liver deteriorated therefore prompting a liver transplant. They also went on further to say that despite someone having died for her to live she continues to abuse her gift of life by drinking excessively. The issue of the SABC, Dali Mpho is an arrogant idiot. They want to hold the rest of the media world to randsom by dictating what should and should not published. SABC news as it stands has become ANC News, who ever decided that the stuff they show is newsworthy. His arrogance extended with the PSL also and the PSL proved to him that they don't need them. They did the same thing last year when they decided not to air Thabo Mbeki unauthorised and it got out anyway. DALI should be fired, he is completely incompetent.

That letter reads an awful lot like the waffle written by you know who on the ANC today website.

And throwing your toys and leaving the SANEF simply reduces the SABC's ability to participate meaningfully in any debate regarding the state of SA's media, state broadcaser or not.

Dali Mpofu's stance on the whole issue is hardly surprising from an official government broadcaster; and the resignation of Jacques Pauw will leave a gaping hole at the SABC. I commend media efforts from the likes of Carte Blanche and the Sunday Times, without them we would live in ignorant bliss. Our country's leaders should be accountable and capable of performing the duties expected of them. We as a democracy have a right to question these issues. Our cabinet ministers are public figures, and should behave accordingly. Thank you Sunday Times for keeping us enlightened. As for the SABC - who really watches their news coverage anyhow?

It is ironic that you don't like anybody telling it like it is. Even more ironic that the Press this weekend echoed my sentiments. So why the whoosey stance of taking off anything controversial?

I have just checked the database and have not found any deleted or suspended comments to do with this forum.

Is the SABC the custodian of Mantos'health matters? Why poke their nose where it does not belong?