Cosatu doubts SABC objectivity
27/11/2007 20:03  - (SA)  

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SABC gets rights to ANC meet Cosatu: ANC should talk policy SABC 'not an ANC stooge'

Johannesburg - Cosatu has expressed concern over the awarding of exclusive rights to the SABC to broadcast the ANC's national conference in Polokwane next month.

"We doubt whether the SABC can be relied upon to provide objective and politically independent coverage of the conference," the Congress of SA Trade Unions said in a statement on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that five SABC cameras would be allowed in the plenary hall during the open sessions of the conference.

They would provide "clean feeds" and unedited material - without branding - to other broadcasters.

Cosatu said it was particularly worried about coverage of delegates' reaction to speakers amid a highly-contested leadership battle in the African National Congress.

Local and international broadcasters that will rely on the SABC material have expressed mixed views on the SABC's exclusive rights.

Some argued this would subject them to the SABC's editorial discretion.

ANC spokesperson Steyn Speed dismissed this, saying one of the conditions stipulated was that the SABC would provide the feed free and "completely unedited".

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