IT should come as no surprise that there are military ghosts in the SABC machine. In a way, it’s a bit unfair to single out new head of Agenda Nico van Burick when there are so many others, in places as influential or more so, who participated in the use of the SABC as a propaganda organ rather than a public broadcaster.
Because of its critical position as a manufacturer and disseminator of propaganda under the ancien regime, the SABC is riddled with opinion-makers and decision-takers who came to the corporation as foot-soldiers in PW Botha’s war of total onslaught.
There are two worries: that they could function as some kind of “third force” serving old allegiances, certainly, but also that they may serve their new political masters with equal fervour. Once a hack always a hack — in most cases at least. The difficult question facing SABC chief executive Zwelakhe Sisulu is this: what on earth to do about it?
He needs to clear the decks, but Auckland Park may well grind to a halt if he dismisses everyone who had double allegiance to broadcasting and “state security”.
There was a time when the two were indistinguishable. There’s only one solution. If people are up for promotions, the air around them needs to be cleared — no matter what the consequences. Let those who did the dirty work tell all and commit themselves to independent public broadcasting if they wish to stay. Those who deny or defend what they did will have to face the consequences. Ditto for the former-ANC propagandists now in positions of senior management.
Let the public they now serve know exactly what they did in the war. And, for pity’s sake, let the new programming begin!