SABC seen as 'whipping boy'

2008-05-09 07:37

Johannesburg - The media tended to see the SABC as a "convenient whipping boy or girl", said board member Bheki Khumalo on Thursday.

Launching the SABC News Agency in Johannesburg, he said there were considerable doubts and disruptions clouding the activities of the SABC.

This had put the organisation under stress.

"There is a tendency, fuelled by the media - whose natural habit is to hunt in the security of a pack and who see the SABC as a convenient whipping boy or girl - to see everything that goes on in our organisation as reflecting this or that political personality or faction in SA politics," said Khumalo.

"This launch, indeed, is splendid good news about the SABC at a time when less-encouraging news can be the order of the day."

The SABC board suspended chief executive Dali Mpofu on Wednesday - a day after he suspended the broadcaster's news and current affairs executive, Snuki Zikalala.

Putting SABC's wares on show

Last week, Parliament's communication portfolio committee said it intended passing a motion of no confidence in the SABC board.

Khumalo said on Thursday the SABC would "shake off" all things that deterred it from its prime task of being a credible public broadcaster.

"It is time that we broke this clammy and expedient grasp," he said, adding that the SABC would set out to showcase the valuable wares that it had to offer.

The launch of the SABC News Agency would make global news and current affairs content - in all 11 official languages - available for sale to local and international clients.

- SAPA