Jacquie Golding-Duffy
THE SABC is due to publish next month a history of itself, which has so far cost R150 000 and avoids the public broadcaster’s controversial past.
The 200-page book, called The Voice, the Vision: The 60-Year Hstory of the SABC, is believed to be a light-hearted account of the corporation’s past, failing to highlight the then-National Party government’s stranglehold on the broadcaster.
Editor and author of the book, 38-year-old Malcolm Theunissen, says the book deliberately does not “dwell on political and contentious aspects” as “this ground has been covered several times by the media.
“This book is meant to be a nostalgic, enjoyable read aimed at the general public.
“It covers the advent of radio in South Africa and where we stood in comparison with the rest of the world.”
Theunissen says he could have chosen to write the SABC’s history from a political viewpoint but it he chose to steer the editorial away from politics towards “development of the public broadcaster”.
Head of SABC Corporate Marketing Pat Pillai agrees that it was Theunissen’s editorial prerogative to write the book in whichever fashion he chose, adding that he had “no problem with the content”.