SABC 'biased towards Cope'

2008-11-20 11:38

Durban - The ANC has called on the SABC to "resist temptation" in its coverage of political events or face "corroding" its standing in the public domain.

This, after the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal claimed that an SABC journalist had been suspended for not covering a meeting of the Congress of the People (Cope), a party formed an ANC breakaway group.

The meeting was expected to addressed by Cope chairperson Mosiuoa Terror Lekota.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago denied the allegation saying the journalist in question was not suspended, but had taken three days leave.

However, he admitted that the reporter had been tasked with covering the meeting, in Verulam, but had failed to do so.

'Nothing to do with politics'

"This is an employer/employee situation. It has got nothing to do with politics. The journalist was given an assignment to do and he did not do it."

He had also not provided a reason for the non-coverage to his superiors.

"We will investigate the matter and then decide whether to suspend him or not," Kganyago said.

ANC provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu said the party believed the SABC was biased in favour of Cope "even going to the extent of covering every little event that they stage".

He called for sobriety and objectivity and warned that if the public broadcaster did not resist temptation it would corrode its standing in the eyes of the public.

- SAPA