Johannesburg - Staff at the SABC were told on Tuesday that the public broadcaster is not in crisis, that their freedom of speech is safe, and that external forces are to blame for their current woes.
The SABC also revealed on social media on Tuesday that it has replaced acting group CEO Jimi Matthews with SABC chief financial officer, James Aguma.
An urgent meeting was called on Tuesday at the SABC offices, with sources attending the meeting reporting what they were told by chairman of the SABC board, Professor Mbulaheni Maguvhe.
It’s understood that Maguvhe blamed external influences and social media for the current attacks the broadcaster has experienced for their policies that have recently been compared to censorship.
He asked that staff, rather than turning to social media with their dissatisfaction, approach the board itself.
While noting the recent resignation of Matthews, he said that in a company like the SABC people “come and go”, and that this was not indicative of a crisis.
Maguvhe insisted the board was focusing on transformation, and that the recent decision to broadcast 90 percent local content was part of the SABC he wanted to see. He insisted that the company was stable, focused and most definitely not derailed.
Maguvhe is set to address a press conference later on Tuesday, where it is understood the identity of the next CEO will likely be confirmed and to answer further inquiries about the state of the broadcaster.
The SABC and its chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, have come under fire this week after three top SABC journalists were placed on suspension for objecting to a decision to not cover a protest on censorship last week.
Alongside the eight dismissals, 12 other employees received final written warnings while 11 others were served with regular warnings.
Last week, the Right2Know campaign led protests against SABC management in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg, petitioning the recent ban on protest coverage and recent editorial policies implemented last month allowing Motsoeneng the final say on editorial decisions.
The three top SABC journalists, economics editor, Thandeka Gqubule, RSG executive producer Foeta Krige and senior journalist Suna Venter were suspended after questioning a decision to not cover the protest.
Meanwhile, SABC journalists, Busisiwe Ntuli, executive producer of Special Assigment, Krivani Pillay, executive producer of SAfm Current Affairs and senior investigative reporter, Jacques Steenkamp, have launched a campaign against censorship and poor policy decisions at the public broadcaster.
In a letter to Motsoeneng the trio wrote: “Our newsroom has become a source of derision, despair and criticism from the people that we are fundamentally accountable to, the public at large.
“ln addition, we are of the view that the recent decisions to remove the newspaper slots and The Editors on SAFM's AM Live amounts to what we consider censorship, unless reasonable and professional explanations can be advanced within the framework of our editorial policy and our obligation to serve the public,” the letter continues.
“Furthermore, we wish to register our deep concern for our colleagues who have been suspended for expressing their right to freedom of expression by simply debating and assessing the newsworthiness of events as expected, during editorial meetings. As such, we view the suspensions of Thandeka Gqubule, Foeta Krige and Suna Venter as acts of victimisation. An editorial meeting is to debate, deliberate, argue and find consensus on news stories. However, based on the recent developments, it seems that this is no longer allowed during editorial line talks - a situation that we believe needs to be challenged.”
“We are shocked by the latest pronouncements that fundamentally erode the right of the public to know the whole story about the developments in their communities and to display such stories in a responsible manner, as has been done as per the ICASA and BCCSA requirements. These pronouncements effectively render our newsrooms incapable of providing compelling audio visual content that educates and informs the public and to disseminate balanced and accurate information.”
The Star