Cape Town - Andile Lili has told his Ses’Khona People’s Rights Movement that he sees nothing wrong with the way SABC’s Chief Operating Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been running the public broadcaster.
Speaking at a rally in Khayelitsha on Saturday, where he was announced as the ANC’s candidate for Makhaza, Ward 95, in the upcoming municipal elections, Lili told Ses’Khona members: “We are inspired by what he has done, he has inspired through the whole 90 percent and for women transformation and for that whole organisation.”
He was referring to Motsoeneng’s recent decision to air mostly local shows and music on the broadcaster’s radio and TV channels.
Lili told Daily Voice he is also in favour of the SABC banning the airing of violent protests.
Motsoeneng also came under fire for banning the reading of newspaper headlines on air and calling for positive coverage of President Jacob Zuma. Six journalists at the SABC were suspended for going against Motsoeneng’s imposed orders.
“Yes, we support Hlaudi, we believe to ban the violent protest is a good idea. I don’t know what the motive is for violent protests to be allowed. This is making South Africa look bad. Violent protests make the country look bad, politically and for our economy. There is nothing wrong with the SABC’s decision,” Lili said.
Lili and several other Ses’Khona members were arrested after flinging poo at Cape Town International Airport and the Western Cape legislature in 2013. Footage of that violent protest was widely broadcast.
In a shock move last week, the SABC’s acting CEO, Jimi Matthews, resigned.
Announcing his resignation on Twitter, he wrote: “What is happening at the SABC is wrong and I can no longer be a part of it.”
He reportedly accused Motsoeneng of conducting a reign of terror at the SABC, where people are “being bludgeoned to toe the line”.
On Friday, scores of journalists in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town picketed outside SABC offices, calling for a ban of the “Hlaudi censorship”.
Dressed in black, reporters carried placards reading: “Not In My Name”, “Hlaudi Must Fall”, “Hlaudi is a ‘Dicktator”.
In Cape Town, picketers braced stormy weather as they protested in Sea Point.
Daily Voice Editor, Taariq Halim, who attended the picket, says: “We are here today not only to stand up for our colleagues at the SABC, but to defend our profession and defend the public’s right to information.”
Daily Voice