Johannesburg - The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) has lashed out at the “weak ANC leadership” for the lackadaisical manner it is dealing with the imploding crisis at the public broader the SABC.
Answering questions from Independent Media during a media briefing in Joburg this morning, CWU general secretary Aubrey Tshabalala said while they welcomed the probe into SABC strongman Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s powers, “but the ANC leadership must not waste our time”.
Read: Mass action call to force #Hlaudi out of SABC
“How do you probe yourself? They have appointed the (SABC) board, they have appointed the (Communications) Minister. When these allegations were raised ... they should have summoned those people to seek clarity and give the public a clear answer. They first said something else and then (made an) about turn to say something else. To us that’s undecisive leadership there,” said Tshabalala.
When Jimi Matthews resigned as the SABC acting group chief executive last week, he was given a dressing down by ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa. He accused him of being an opportunistic and being used by those wanting to undermine the questionable integrity of the SABC.
Tshabalala said: “What we must be frank about is the ANC should have called the board and clarify these issues. If it’s not satisfied it could have gone ahead and conduct a necessary probe into that matter. Not to come and account to the media every two seconds because they want to impress the white monopoly capital, that’s the problem that we have. Hence when they appointed a minister, when the white monopoly capital complained, they removed that minister. This shows the weaknesses of leadership. We want to condemn that. But we are still going to engage them on that matter because we have a meeting (lined up) with them.”
In a shock move, the CWU then controversially threw its lot with Motsoeneng and disregarded the persecution of its members who have been suspended for challenging the broadcaster’s draconian censorship policy.
The union leaders distanced themselves from the unfolding crisis, saying they would not play to the gallery of those criticising Motsoeneng’s “dictatorial” leadership.
CWU president Clyde Mervin praised Motsoeneng’s work in turning the SABC around, while dismissing Matthews as a coward for not raising issues inside the SABC.
“When Jimi Matthews was inside SABC he defended SABC. He was the spokesperson defending SABC. Today it can’t be correct, (that) after defending SABC, he turns around and says there are shenanigans happening.
Jimi met us in the corridors and never said anything. We find him as the biggest coward ever,” said Mervin.
The ANC is expected to hold a media briefing on the SABC crisis and media freedom at Luthuli House at 3pm.
@luyolomkentane
Politics Bureau