SABC regrets Perlman's decision

2007-01-30 16:08

Johannesburg - The resignation of veteran journalist John Perlman was accepted "with regret" by the SABC on Tuesday.

Perlman was recognised as one of South Africa's top radio current affairs anchors, SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said.

"The work he did at SAfm was of extremely high standard and he brought a high level of professionalism into the news room," Kganyago said.

Perlman tendered his resignation late on Monday afternoon.

"After nine exciting and fulfilling years presenting AM Live I have decided to move on in pursuit of new challenges," he said.

Perlman told the Mail & Guardian Online on Tuesday morning that he would be ready to speak to the media "in two days".

"I need to think," he said.

Business Day reported that Perlman's resignation followed that of Nikiwe Bikitsha, his co-presenter on SAfm's Morning Live, and was related to the SABC's controversial blacklisting of certain commentators.

'Icasa must step in'

The blacklisting saga should be reviewed by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), the Democratic Alliance proposed to the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications on Tuesday.

"It is time Icasa is invited to step in," said DA MP Dene Smuts.

"Deeply saddened and disturbed" at the departure of Perlman and Bikitsha, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said they were further indication of a grave crisis throughout the public broadcaster.

The blacklistings would be raised at a meeting - possibly next month - with the SABC, said spokesperson Patrick Craven.

Cosatu's central executive committee resolved in November to defend Perlman and to "make sure that he is not intimidated in a manner that would communicate a message to SABC staffers that those who stand up... will suffer".

On-air confrontation

In an on-air confrontation last year, Perlman told Kganyago that, contrary to the spokesperson's denials, he knew there was a blacklist.

An inquiry into the allegations, ordered by SABC chief executive, Dali Mpofu, found that SABC staff had been instructed to exclude certain commentators from commenting.

They included Business Day political editor Karima Brown, independent political analysts Aubrey Matshiqi, Moeletsi Mbeki, Elinor Sisulu and media boss Trevor Ncube.

The inquiry found the SABC's denial of a blacklist "misleading by omission".

The commission found that Perlman had been presented with an official statement from the SABC which he knew from personal experience to be untrue, and had correctly chosen to confront it.

Atmosphere of fear

The commission found there was an atmosphere of fear in the SABC newsrooms, which was not conducive to journalistic independence.

The SABC later said Perlman would face a disciplinary inquiry for bringing the organisation into disrepute.

Perlman reportedly insisted that this go ahead, refusing to accept an on-air warning.

It was "understood" he was leaving the SABC because it was unwilling to address the commission's finding that there was "an atmosphere of fear and distrust" at the broadcaster, Business Day reported.

The DA's Smuts said the announcement of the disciplinary inquiry into Perlman and another into SABC news head Snuki Zikalala was where "the process began to go seriously wrong".

"This ghastly symmetry was purely political because Perlman was vindicated by the commission while Zikalala did have a case to answer."

- SAPA