Blame and Shame on South Africa’s Public Broadcaster

More than six months ago The Sowetan reported the existence of a “blacklist” drawn up by SABC News Executive Dr. Snuki Zikalala of political commentators known for critical views of the South African presidency. SABC vehemently denied the existence of a “board-approved” blacklist. One of the allegedly banned commentators was Moeletsi Mbeki , brother of the South African president Thabo Mbeki. Dr. Zikalala is a controversial character, himself, and SABC had little choice but to call an independent inquiry.

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The inquiry was held, people were interviewed and a report was written. SABC issued a statement that the alleged blacklisting was found to be neither policy nor practice. The entire report, however, was not publicly released.

SABC’s summary included a statement of confidence in Zikalala and the news department “noting that they operate under very difficult circumstances in an environment that is, rightly or wrongly, always challenging the integrity of the public broadcaster.”

Then the Mail & Guardian happened to find a copy of the inquiry report, the totality of which did not agree with SABC statements. Systematic blacklisting did occur, politically motivated and contrary to news department policy. The Mail & Guardian published the report on its website. (read the entire report here)

SABC’s lawyers went to court to have the report removed from the website because it was the property of SABC and would cause a management problem. The inquiry commissioners previously called for the report to be made public.

Sunday morning (October 15) Judge Zukiswa Tshiqi dismissed SABC’s suit saying the report was in the public interest.

“I don't believe that it is okay to suppress information or to hide information written in the report,” she said in comments reported by News 24.

Mail & Guardian editor Ferial Haffejee challenged SABC’s claim that the report had been stolen.

“I did not steal it, as the SABC's lawyers said in court, and it was not given to me by somebody who stole it.”

“A lot of journalism is unauthorized. If journalism is only what is gleaned from authorized sources of information, I'm afraid we wouldn't be doing our jobs.”

Blame and Shame on South Africa’s Public Broadcaster

Independence and transparency separates State broadcasters from public broadcasters. Or, that is the theory. Blacklisting political commentators by South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) news officials is bad enough. Trying to cover it up is worse.