Government seeks to control the SABC
The government is publishing the Broadcasting Amendment Bill today which will force the SABC board to seek government's approval of its "policies governing the exercise of accurate, fair and accountable reporting". The proposed amendments will remove the clause in the current Broadcasting Act that ensures the SABC's "freedom of expression and journalistic, creative and programming independence".
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) has come out strongly against the amendments saying that the SABC's freedom of expression was at stake. Spokesman Raymond Louw: "The editors' powers to ensure accurate and fair reporting is usurped by the board, which not only has to ensure accurate and fair reporting, but also 'accountable' reporting, whatever that may mean. the board's policies will be submitted to the minister for approval - that in effect gives the minister power over the SABC's news services."
The SABC's acting head of news, Mathatha Tsedu, who has resigned after his appointment as editor of the Sunday Times, says that his decision to leave had nothing to do with the government's apparent bid to influence news coverage. He has however strongly criticised the proposed amendments. Speaking as chairman of the SA National Editors' Forum he said that the organisation would not countenance any amendment to the Broadcasting Act which seeks to undermine the integrity of the news division of the SABC. "If these amendments are actually tabled for discussion, it will be a clear indication that the government intends to turn the SABC from a public broadcaster into more of a state broadcaster. That should be avoided at all costs."
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