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'No evidence of blacklisting'
12/10/2006 11:50 - (SA)
Johannesburg - No evidence has been found of the SABC blacklisting some commentators and analysts because of their political views, the public broadcaster reported on Thursday.
It said SABC chief executive Dali Mpofu revealed this during a morning talk show on SAfm.
Mpofu said a commission of inquiry had found there was no blanket ban on certain political commentators and analysts.
The commission - made up of former SABC head Zwelakhe Sisulu and advocate Gilbert Marcus - was appointed by SABC management to investigate the matter.
This came after allegations that the SABC's head of news, Snuki Zikalala, had ruled certain commentators and analysts should not be used on air because of their political views.
Business Day columnist Anton Harber wrote on Wednesday that the inquiry revealed that Zikalala had broken the broadcaster's own code of conduct.
He said the report on the outcome of the probe cited at least eight incidents where Zikalala transgressed.
It concluded he did so by not using certain commentators and analysts for reasons that were not "objectively justifiable".
The inquiry also found that Zikalala made a misleading statement when denying the existence of an editorial blacklist.
Harber said his information on the contents of the report came from two people who, he said, had read the document. They were not named.
The commission handed its report on the matter to Mpofu last week.
Harber said SABC management was still debating whether to release the report in full or in an abbreviated version.
- SAPA
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