Booing still haunts SABC
2005-08-28 19:01
Johannesburg - The SABC says it will issue a statement on Monday regarding a freelance cameraman accused of not being on time to film negative reaction to deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
"We are not prepared to comment at this stage.
I must get back to the office and first consult with my principals," SABC spokesperson Lesego Mncwango said on Sunday afternoon.
Freelance cameraman Sonjay Singh was accused of not arriving on time to film former deputy president Jacob Zuma supporters booing Mlambo-Ngcuka at a Women's Day meeting in Utrecht.
Mncwango also said she could not comment on Singh's reported statement on Sunday that he would consider legal action against the SABC.
'Let go'
"I have still not heard anything from the SABC, and I will definitely consider investigating legal action if I have been fired," he told Rapport newspaper.
He said he had not heard anything from the SABC, and had not been "let go" as SABC spokesperson Paul Setsetse had indicated.
Setsetse had earlier said the SABC had cancelled Singh's contract because he had turned up late at the Women's Day meeting, and missed the heckling.
Mncwango said she would have to "establish the facts internally" before she could react to the reports.
"Anything issued now would be pure conjecture," Mncwango added.
Apologised
Singh claims he was there, and e.tv footage confirms his statement.
Democratic Alliance spokesperson Dene Smuts said the "SABC has now twice been caught misrepresenting the facts about it own conduct and coverage".
Commenting on the Rapport story, she said: "A broadcaster that lies about its own coverage and conduct cannot claim to present the news accurately and truthfully."
On August 18, the SABC apologised to viewers and assured them of its "editorial autonomy and integrity", when asked why it had not shown the booing footage.
It would air negative footage even when it involved senior government officials, it said.
The footage, the SABC said, had "simply not been available", adding that the cameraman had arrived late for the event.
"Version Two, given by news MD Snuki Zikalala on Metro FM on the night of August 18, was that the cameraman felt the incident was 'irrelevant'," Smuts said.
"According to him, he said he saw it but felt that it was irrelevant." Smuts said: "SABC spokesperson Paul Setsetse repeated this version last week.
SABC 'caught out'
"Since his (Singh's) version coincides with e.tv footage, no-one will believe the SABC's constantly shifting defence," Smuts said.
She said the damage done to the cameraman's reputation seemed to bother the SABC very little.
Smuts said the SABC had been "caught out" breaking the Code of Conduct, whereby intentional or negligent distortion of the news by material omission is a transgression.
"It has been caught lying, not once but twice. It has no editorial integrity.
"The new CEO (Dali Mpofu) needs to take action, and he needs to do it now."
- SAPA