POLITICS

SABC news silent on Hlaudi Motsoeneng's R2,8m salary package - Gavin Davis

DA MP says the public broadcaster strangely failed to cover the story despite most other media outlets doing so

SABC ‘radio silence' on Hlaudi Motsoeneng's salary is deafening 

05 September 2014

An analysis of media reports indicates an SABC news blackout on the issue of SABC Chief Operations Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng's salary. 

The DA revealed this week that Hlaudi Motsoeneng was paid more than President Zuma last year, and that Mr Motsoeneng's salary had risen from R334 167 in 2010 to R2.8 million in 2014.

According to the DA's analysis 30 radio stations, one television channel and 11 newspapers covered the story. However, the story did not feature on any of the SABC's 20 radio stations and various TV news bulletins.

The ‘radio silence' from the SABC on Hlaudi Motsoeneng's inflated salary is deafening. 

I have today written to the SABC's Head of News, Jimi Matthews, to request that he:

Confirms the DA's analysis that the SABC did not cover the story

If so, explain the SABC's decision not to run the story despite its obvious newsworthiness

Indicates who at the SABC took the decision not to cover the story.

If a story is in the public interest, the SABC is expected to cover it. We cannot have a situation where the SABC refuses to broadcast stories just because they are damaging to the SABC's reputation.

Note to Editors

According to the DA's analysis, the following media outlets covered the story:

PE FM

Kingfisher FM

Bay FM 107.9

Talk Radio 702/Cape Talk Simulcast

Zibonele Community Radio 

Talk Radio 702 

Radio Pretoria 

Radio CCFM 

Algoa FM 

SFM 

Kfm 

Radio Cape Pulpit

Radio Today 

Mix 93.8 FM 

Classic FM 

Heart 104.9 FM 

Radio Helderberg 

Voice of the Cape 

Groot FM 90.5

Radio Pulpit 

UCT Radio 

ENCA 

Bok Radio

Cape Talk 

Jacaranda 94.2 

Highveld Stereo 94.7 

Link FM 

Kyknet 

Radio Tygerberg 

UJFM 95.4 

Power FM 

CITIZEN 

WITNESS 

DAILY VOICE

BEELD

WITNESS

BURGER

BURGER (Oos Kaap)

MERCURY (First Edition)

CAPE ARGUS

STAR

CAPE TIMES 

Statement issued by Gavin Davis MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, September 5 2014

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