Zuma's blacks-only talks slated

2008-02-24 19:57

Johannesburg - The in-camera conference African National Congress President Jacob Zuma gave to the Forum of Black Journalists was similar to the off-the-record briefing given to black editors by Bulelani Ngcuka, said the Democratic Alliance on Sunday.

At the time, Zuma protested and described it as a "character assassination exercise", said the DA.

DA communications spokesperson Dene Smuts, said that while the DA acknowledged the right of black journalists to revive a race-exclusive organisation, the forum and its organiser, Abbey Makoe, had to explain the reasons for the revival to the public.

Smuts said Makoe held a particular position of trust to all South Africans as political editor of the SABC.

"The need for an explanation is all the more urgent because Mr Jacob Zuma was the guest of the forum at its closed meeting."

Bulelani Ngcuka had an off-the-record briefing with black editors when Zuma was first being investigated.

Complained to Public Protector

"This was no ordinary media briefing, it was a character-assassination exercise," Zuma said in a complaint to the Public Protector at the time, arguing that Ngcuka was abusing his position and not acting in good faith, Smuts said.

"It is to Zuma's credit that he held a nonracial press conference immediately after the event. But what did he say behind closed doors? What questions did the black journalists feel they could ask only in-camera? What is the agenda?," asked Smuts.

These question, Smuts said, were inevitable and that was what made the race-exclusive forum problematic.

"In the case of the SABC it is not just problematic, it is unacceptable."

The SABC had been called to report to the parliamentary communications committee on the aftermath of the Blacklisting Report this week.

"A whole new set of questions on the subject of exclusion and censorship now arise as a result of its political editor's actions," said Smuts.

- SAPA