SABC hunger strikers call press conference

The hunger strike began as a protest by Lee at the SABC's slashing of local content. Now in his fifth week, three new hunger strikers joined him nine days ago (Gwen Britz, Ingi Brough and Thabiso Mafane) and a fifth member (Aluta Mlisana) joined the campaign six days ago (see http://hungerprotest.wordpress.com/list-of-hunger-protestors).

The hunger action is a carefully considered, rational statement about the starving of an industry through mismanagement, arrogance and a lack of planning by the SABC.

The hunger protestors have started a blog at www.hungerprotest.wordpress.com and social network sites are growing with viewer anger at the SABC's slashing of local content and its massive schedule of repeats currently running in prime time.

A spokesperson for the TV Industry Emergency Coalition (TVIEC) said that, although this is not a formal action of theirs, they continue to offer any aid they can to the protestors and will attend on Wednesday. They have requested that all hunger strikers receive medical attention and find it most unfortunate that the strikers have been forced to continue with their action, a clear sign of the desperation of our industry's current situation.