The protest against itself the SABC screened but didn’t know about…

23 July 2016 - 15:15 By TMG Digital
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The SABC unwittingly screened a protest on Friday – but had no idea that it was doing so and that the protest taking place right under chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s nose was by the public broadcaster’s own news staff.

In an open revolt against Motsoeneng‚ SABC journalists wore black throughout the day in an on-air “blackout” in solidarity with eight colleagues fired for challenging the broadcaster’s censorship policies‚ which include a ban on coverage of violent protests.

One journalist‚ who spoke to TMG Digital on condition of anonymity‚ said the protest had been organised by word of mouth so that no “paper trail was left”.

 

 

TVwithThinus @TVwithThinus tweeted: “SILENT FURY. Viewers don’t know #SABC news staff all wearing black today in support of fired #SABC8 colleagues.”

Another tweet stated: “SILENT PROTEST. #SABC news staff today all silently showing their disdain of Haludi/support of fired #SABC 8 journos by wearing black.”

“QUIET BLACKOUT. #SABC newsers united in wearing black today supporting fired #SABC8 colleagues protesting Hlaudi‚” read another message on Twitter.

Another stated: “SILENT OUTRAGE: Viewers wont realise: #SABC staff all wearing BLACK today to protest firing of #SABC8 colleagues.”

‘BRAVE IN BLACK. SABC journalists wearing BLACK today to support fired #SABC8 colleagues‚ show Hlaudi disdain” and “UNITED FRONT. Co-incidence that #SABC journalists all wore black today? Nope. All united to support fired #SABC8” read two other messages

And one summed it up by stating: “Hlaudi Moetseng literally wont be able to suspend/fire the bulk of @SABCTVNews staff‚ nobody will be left to be on air.” Several photos depicting news presenters and staffers in black were posted on the TVwithThinus Twitter account.

The Labour Court heard the case of four of the eight fired SABC journalists – Foeta Krige‚ Suna Venter‚ Krivani Pillay and Jacques Steenkamp – and is expected to deliver judgment on either Monday or Tuesday. Three others are understood to also be filing papers in the Labour Court.

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