SOS and CFE call out the SABC Board for pre-meetings with the ANC

The SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition (SOS) and Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) is concerned by the recent media reports alleging that certain SABC Board members are attending the ‘ANC study group’ with MP’s before appearing in front of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies (PPCCDT) for reporting and accountability purposes. 

These private meetings with the ANC undermine the independence of the SABC, while also raising concerns about potential political interference and compromise of the SABC’s transparency, accountability, and adherence to ethical standards in its decision-making processes. This is even more concerning considering that the ANC has constantly been accused of using its power to influence the operations and editorial decision-making of the SABC in order to control the narrative.

There needs to always be a clear separation between the governing party and the public broadcaster to ensure that the SABC remains unbiased, impartial, independent, and able to serve the public interest and fulfil its public mandate. 

Taking into consideration the historical context of the SABC as a former state broadcaster, previously a mouthpiece of government during apartheid; deliberate measures are required to limit government control and influence over the public broadcaster. Precedents set by the previous SABC board, which declined such meetings, should be adhered to.

In the post-apartheid era, our Constitution guarantees freedom of the press and prohibits censorship. The SABC’s mandate as a public broadcaster comes from the Charter, laid down in chapter IV of the Broadcasting Act, which states that “in pursuit of its objectives and in the exercise of its powers, [the SABC] enjoys freedom of expression and journalistic, creative and programming independence as enshrined in the Constitution”. However, despite the legal provisions that safeguard the independence of the SABC, political interference from the ANC or other government officials has been rife in the past, manifesting in editorial decisions, content, or appointments. The SABC is still recovering from a massive political interference era that is marked by state capture, censorship, and editorial interference in news coverage, such as the unwarranted change in editorial policies to restrict critical reporting to suit the narrative of the ANC. This severely undermined the SABC’s credibility and independence and eroded public trust.

To ensure that the SABC operates effectively and in the best interest of the public, it is essential to have a strong and independent Board which will uphold good governance practices, integrity in decision making, and provide proper oversight over operations. The Board must protect the editorial team from external influences so as to maintain the public broadcaster’s credibility, impartiality and public trust.

What is even more concerning is that these media reports surface amid the election period. During elections, political pressures heighten, and a strong and independent Board is needed to ensure that the public broadcaster is safeguarded against attempts to compromise the integrity and the editorial independence of the SABC, ensuring that its election coverage remains fair and free from political interference or bias. 

Lack of independence at the SABC may lead to biased reporting, censorship of dissenting voices, and unbiased news and election coverage, with serious implications for media freedom and democracy particularly considering the significance of the SABC.

SOS calls on the SABC Board to take its rightful place, in the public interest and uphold transparency and accountability; and immediately stop attending pre-meetings with the ANC to ensure that the independence of the SABC is duly protected during the election period and beyond. 

For more information contact: 

Samkelo Mokhine (SOS Board Chair)

072 294 0671