The SABC is fumbling nervously through its Unauthorised documentary series, which critics charge is anything but “unauthorised”.
Following last week’s controversial last-minute canning of the documentary on President Thabo Mbeki, sources have told the Mail & Guardian that SABC management has interfered with other films in the series.
One industry insider, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, said the documentary on football’s Iron Duke, Irvin Khoza, had been significantly altered, with SABC officials insisting that much of his controversial past be removed from the film.
“It wasn’t unauthorised, it was authorised,” according to the source, who said that reference to Khoza’s involvement in crime was removed from the documentary. He has been found guilty of insurance fraud and tax evasion, for which he was fined. Some years ago, when police raided his Diepkloof house, they found an Uzi sub-machine gun. He referred them to then-deputy president Jacob Zuma for an explanation.
Another industry insider said Khoza’s office had insisted on seeing the documentary before it was aired, and that allegations of his connection with a drug smuggling operation in Zambia were removed from the documentary.
The SABC chose not to respond to M&G questions regarding the Khoza documentary, merely resending the press statement on the Mbeki documentary. Khoza had not responded by the time of going to press.
Last week the scheduled Unauthorised documentary on Mbeki, produced by Broad Daylight Films, was pulled at the last minute. Critics alleged that SABC management canned the film because they were nervous of political fallout.
In a statement, the broadcaster said the film, which was to be flighted on SABC3 on May 17, was not broadcast after management discovered that internal approval processes had not been correctly followed.
This week, however, the documentary’s producers, Ben Cashdan and Redi Direko, disputed this, claiming they had no idea what internal procedures the SABC was referring to. Despite numerous requests for clarification from the broadcaster, none had been forthcoming.
“We have been in regular contact with the SABC, and I find it strange that in six months they only picked up these problems on the day of the broadcast,” said Direko. “Quite frankly I don’t buy that story. None of the other filmmakers had these internal procedures that have been blamed.”
Cashdan and Direko say they have sent six e-mails to the SABC requesting an explanation, but that the only response they received was a rushed and mumbled voice message, two days after the film was canned, from the SABC’s Kamscilla Naidoo. This had mentioned a rescheduling issue.
Naidoo refused to comment on the matter, but did confirm that the film did not have a definite rescheduling date.
Cashdan said he knew some SABC staffers supported the film and felt it should have been aired. However, senior management’s political reservations had prevailed.
“We have heard from sources within the SABC that it was a matter of interference by management,” said Direko.
Direko said they would wait for an explanation and that a number of interested parties had already approached them about the film.
Another industry insider said that the SABC legal team gave the film the all-clear on the day it was to be aired, but that senior management had then stepped in.
Direko echoed the view: “I strongly believe this is a film that South Africans should see. It takes a hard look at the president but is still fair and objective. I’d hate to think this is a case of self-censorship.”
Freedom of Expression Institute director Jane Duncan said the SABC’s explanation for the canning of the documentary “raises more questions than it answers” and had the “look and feel of self-censorship”.
“It can hardly be coincidental that the most troubling editorial decisions the SABC has made recently relate to controversies surrounding the president, and the former and current deputy presidents,” said Duncan.
Direko said he and Cashdan were still waiting to engage the SABC on the issue. They had sent another e-mail this week to SABC CEO Dali Mpofu and chairperson of the board Eddie Funde requesting an explanation.