Cape Town - ANC members of Parliament came out in support of the embattled SABC on Tuesday, rejecting calls for an inquiry into issues at the public broadcaster and saying perceptions of chaos were fuelled by “lies” in the media.
Despite an ANC national executive committee resolution, taken at its lekgotla after the local government elections, calling for “urgent steps to bring stability and policy certainty” in state-owned companies, the party’s MPs accepted the broadcaster’s view that criticism of its decision to ban footage of violent protests and firing of journalists who questioned the move was the work of NGOs and media with an agenda to discredit the ANC government.
Communications Minister Faith Muthambi opened the meeting with Parliament’s communications oversight committee with a broadside at commercial media, saying NGOs such as Right2Know – which staged a protest outside the precinct – had not objected when media took “a negative stance” on coverage of the government.
SABC board member, Aaron Tshidzumba, said the revised editorial policy of the broadcaster had been approved following due process, including public consultation, but the decision not to cover protests was an operational one taken in the course of daily management of editorial meetings.
“It’s our job to can stories we don’t like, that don’t comply with the norms and standards of the company,” Tshidzumba said.
Acting group chief executive, James Aguma, suggested leaks about the broadcaster’s financial difficulties and alleged R18 million payout to his predecessor, Frans Matlala, were the work of “untransformed” finance and IT teams.
However, he did not dispute that the SABC was set to declare a loss for the year, saying it was handicapped by the requirement to cover events of national interest. Taking losses was the cost of being a public broadcaster, he said.
The committee heard from the SABC and minister after its meeting last week, when it discussed the possibility of instituting a parliamentary inquiry, as it sought answers on the ban on protest footage which was overturned by Icasa, the firing of eight journalists who objected to the ban and the implications for the SABC’s finances of legal challenges relating to these.
But Muthambi told MPs the labour dispute with the journalists, except for the case of “freelance” contributing editor Vuyo Mvoko, had been settled.
Mvoko is seeking leave to appeal a decision by the Johannesburg High Court to dismiss his application to have his contract with the SABC enforced.
Muthambi also said the SABC had complied with the Icasa ruling and there were no further steps required.
ANC MP Maesela Kekana said the SABC journalists who had objected to the protest policy had “misled South Africa”, had been unpatriotic in going to the media, “telling lies”, and should be “dealt with”.
Responding to questions from MPs, including the DA’s Phumzile van Damme, who had said the SABC board should be fired en masse and accused ANC MPs of backtracking on their commitment to an inquiry, SABC chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, said some MPs “are not honourable”.
There was “an agenda” behind criticism of the broadcaster and “we need to find out who funds these NGOs”, Motsoeneng said.
He suggested this agenda was related to the SABC’s decision to set a 90% quota for local content as people who had been doing business with “certain big companies” were not happy.
He even suggested the SABC should not account to Parliament because just 2% of its revenue was from the government.
“Why should I account to you when you don’t give us money?” Motsoeneng said.
Closing the meeting, chairman Humphrey Maxegwana said it was clear there would be no inquiry into the SABC