SABC 'credibility is at stake'
2007-09-13 14:05
Themba M Thobela, News24 User
South Africa Broadcasting Corporation credibility is at stake. With their recent withdrawal from South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef), many questions can be asked.
I am not sure whether the SABC is running an agenda to protect government officials but if that is conditionally true, then the SABC has become the mouthpiece for the government. They should not tell us what they think we should know because we deserve to be informed without any fear or favour.
How can SABC boss Dali Mpfofu say "the nonsensical view that the media is absolutely 'free' to trample the privacy and dignity of any citizen offends against the SABC's own values"? How dare a man of his calibre forget that the privacy of public figures is more limited than those who are ordinary citizens like me?
This is the reason the producer of Special Assignment quit from the SABC. Special Assignment was the only good SABC programme. Now that Mr Jacques Pauw has left SABC will be in limbo forever.
Their withdrawal from Sanef came amid allegation of invasion of the health minister's privacy. First and foremost it was in the public interest to know that a minister has misbehaved while in hospital.
I really don't regard South African journalism as vendetta. For now I am convinced to spell out that the SABC is in the wrong hands. This is for the same reason why we have seen Dali Mpfofu in the ANC policy conference. Now this trend by the government to influence the SABC's editorial wants to go to the press.
Then you should ask yourselves, South Africans, if such situation prevails, what is the difference of Zimbabwean media and ours is. In a democratic dispensation the media should be free from any government influences.
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