The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will be asked to explain last year’s blacklisting of political commentators and analysts to an Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) hearing on Wednesday.
The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has complained that the blacklistings constituted a violation of the SABC’s licence conditions, the Broadcasting Act and the Constitution.
SABC management set up a commission — under former SABC head Zwelakhe Sisulu and advocate Gilbert Marcus SC — last year after complaints about a ruling, allegedly by news head Snuki Zikalala, that certain commentators and analysts not be used because they were critical of President Thabo Mbeki.
The inquiry found that the SABC had indeed blacklisted certain commentators and analysts, albeit not officially.
They apparently included former AM Live anchor John Perlman, who has since resigned; independent political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi; the author of a book on Mbeki, William Gumede; and Business Day staff members Vukani Mde and Karima Brown.
The blacklistings came shortly after the SABC ”canned” an independently made documentary about Mbeki, and was criticised for this by the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the Democratic Alliance and other opposition parties.
In response to the commission’s findings, the SABC board tasked SABC group executive Dali Mpofu with taking ”whatever steps he deems necessary”.
Amid claims that the SABC had asked for a postponement of the hearing, Icasa said on Tuesday that it was going ahead as scheduled.
In a statement, the FXI said on Tuesday that its loss of confidence in the ability of the SABC to address the report’s findings precipitated its complaint to Icasa.
The commission had recommended that anyone instructed not to use a particular analyst be entitled to ask and receive written reasons.
It also suggested the development of guidelines on the use of commentators and analysts, regular audits of their use and the training of reporters on interviewing them.
It further advised that the SABC board ”take close cognisance” of concerns about Zikalala’s management style, particularly regarding problems of communication and the ”inappropriately narrow” interpretation of the SABC’s mandate.
It nonetheless expressed confidence in Zikalala and his staff.
It noted that they operated ”under very difficult circumstances in an environment that is … always challenging the integrity of the public broadcaster for various reasons, some of them political”.
The FXI has asked Icasa to enforce the SABC’s licence conditions and underlying statutes by investigating, hearing and making a finding on the complaint.
It has also asked Icasa to ensure the SABC provides a full, public report on its actions on the commission’s findings.
”The regulator should also direct the SABC to desist from any further contraventions, and direct the SABC to take remedial steps to ensure the commission’s findings are addressed adequately.” — Sapa