Zuma urged to launch probe into SABC

20 July 2016 - 16:29 By TMG Digital

Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has called on President Jacob Zuma to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the "ongoing collapse" at the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation. "What is unfolding at the SABC is nothing short of full state capture of the public broadcaster under the ANC‚" he said On Wednesday."It was the Apartheid government that used these tactics in order to paint a 'good story' of South Africa – hiding the true state of affairs in the country from both the domestic and international audience." SABC prevented from censoring violent protestsMaimane called on Zuma to appoint the commission to probe an inability of the SABC Board to perform its duties in terms of the Broadcasting Act‚ the "unconstitutional editorial policies" being enforced by management‚ failure to act as a public broadcaster‚ the political capture of the SABC and deployment of Hlaudi Motsoengeng to the position of chief operations officer.The request follows a series of scandals at the broadcaster‚ including the firing of journalists and a new editorial policy that blocked the screening of violent protests and Motsoeneng's almost R1-million salary increase – from R2.8 million to R3.7 million. "Public outrage about the state of the public broadcaster has come from every sector of South African society: from the public at large; a broad array of civil society organisations including the Albert Luthuli‚ Helen Suzman‚ Thabo Mbeki‚ and Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundations among others; the SABC's own journalists; and even the African National Congress‚" said Maimane...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.