SABC

Parliament's ad hoc committee looking into the SABC board has agreed to finalise its draft report without any recommendations, until those implicated have been given a chance to respond.

Eight MPs voted against the inclusion of preliminary recommendations on Friday, with only two Democratic Alliance MPs voting for inclusion.

African National Congress MP Juli Kilian proposed on Thursday that the committee consider leaving out the recommendations until it had received a response from the SABC, to avoid potential litigation and claims of bias.

The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) has welcomed a Labour Court decision which effectively reinstates four South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) journalists who were dismissed for challenging editorial policy.

SANEF says the court decision affirms media freedom and sends a strong message that censorship has no place in a democracy.

SANEF’s Sam Mkokeli says, “SANEF welcomes the decision of the Labour Court. It's a very important decision and it sends a very strong message that censorship has no place in a democracy.”

Civil society groups have joined the list of political parties criticising the South African Broadcasting Commission (SABC) recently by protesting outside its Auckland Park head offices.

Right2Know, Save Our SABC, the Independent Producers’ Organisation, the Democratic Left Front and members of the National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (NUMSA) accuse the public broadcaster of favouring the ruling African National Congress (ANC), intimidating its journalists and failing to air quality, local content.

The Independent Producers Organisation (IPO) has called for an urgent intervention at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) following a damning report by Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela.
 
The IPO appeals to all institutions designed to provide oversight - Parliament, the shareholder in the department of communications, and Independent Communications Authority of South Africa - to exercise their mandate and to intervene urgently.
 

The SOS: Support Public Broadcasting Coalition (SOS) demand answers about the reason behind the resignation of the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) group chief executive officer, Lulama Mokhobo.

The SABC has issued a statement, indicating that the reasons for her departure are ‘personal and confidential’.

SOS coordinator, Sekoetlane Phamodi, states that the broadcaster has been allowed to run in crisis and constant instability for far too long, with a high turnover in executive staff and board members in recent years.