SABC needs to explain Mandela funeral purchase - DA

The Democratic Alliance (DA) wishes to express its shock and disbelief at reports that the state broadcaster paid more than R3-million to Nelson Mandela's grandson for exclusive rights to Mr. Mandela's funeral. Nelson Mandela is a South African hero who is loved and respected by every South African, and for this matter even to surface is deeply unsettling and distasteful, and reflects very poorly on a public institution which is supposed to safeguard and respect public interests.

We will be asking for a full enquiry and raising questions in Parliament into the management and funding of SABC projects, with specific reference to this matter.

It is difficult to believe that the SABC would have entered into negotiations to attain commercial rights, or sub-sell these rights to make a multi-million Rand profit on the whole event, as the report claims.

The SABC must now explain exactly what commercial rights it has purchased, and prove that this payment was above board. If the whole rationale of having a state broadcaster is to ensure that public rather than commercial interests drive national television broadcasting, then clearly the SABC is in breach of its mandate.

If the SABC has entered into discussions of this nature, it demonstrates a profound disrespect for Mr. Mandela in particular, and the South African public more broadly. They need to explain their actions.

Statement issued by Niekie van den Berg, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of communications, May 31 2009

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter

Services Subscribe to newsletters News feeds Share this article Facebook Google Laaik.it Yahoo! Digg del.icio.us

 

Former president Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela stands accused of receiving more than R3 million for the exclusive rights to Madiba’s funeral – when he dies – to the SABC.... The deal, coded ‘The M Project’ by the SABC, has a budget of about R700 million and was approved by former SABC head of news Snuki Zikalala some time last year."

Sunday World, May 31 2009

 

Related links

Articles:

Madiba belongs to the ANC - Jacob Zuma »

Comments

If you come across comments that are injurious, defamatory, profane, off-topic or inappropriate; contain personal attacks or racist, sexist, homophobic, or other slurs, please report them and they will be removed.

 

responses to this article

Eish! The ambulance chasing has started... That Mandla is a one big slimeball! by KS on June 01 2009, 05:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

a new low for SA...selling / buying someones death If this is true then society should turn their backs on all the people involved. If this is true, such an "agreement" would surely have no standing in law because it was made when the great man was still alive and he is the only person who . .more could agree to such an arrangement. Has to be a joke! . .less by ack on June 01 2009, 07:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Mandela Niekie vd Berg. I take offence to your statement that mandela is a hero to all South Africans. I am a S African and he is not my hero. Do not think that you speak on behalf of all S Africans. by AL on June 01 2009, 07:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

sick, sick, sick Another Nauseating Communist by GungetsTuft on June 01 2009, 08:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

His to sell? Besides the crassess of even contemplating such a deal, how does Mandla have the rights on the funeral, this will surely be a state occasion? by Martin on June 01 2009, 08:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

But think of the merchandising opportunities for the SABC Dead Mandela T-Shirts, Mandela corpse dolls, Mandela death masks, the possibilities are endless for the SABC and the Mandela family. by ps on June 01 2009, 09:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Rapacious! If this is true the rapacious nature of the empowered classes will have slumped to new lows. Whats next a special Lotto game where you can gamble on when the chap will peg.? "Number seven he's in heaven", "Number eight he's knocking at the gate", "Number . .more ten who knows when" The writing is on the wall -when Mandela and perhaps Tutu go the last remaining links to the anti apartheid movement will have gone. There will be no more feel good / pay good moments - we will just be another African country run by "whatshisname". People know this so they will try any scheme to get their sticky pink palms on some loot. We have seen quite a few dodgy attempts at commercializing Mandela over the years - this would be by far the worst. . .less by Yadda Yadda on June 01 2009, 09:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Another lowfrom DA Can't DA just be civil and respect our No.1 citezen? Where are they getting that info from? Why do they always missleading the public? DA should be ashamed if its existance in this wonderfull country! Why?... by Matthew Botha on June 01 2009, 09:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ mathew Botha? Is that even your real name? by unknown on June 01 2009, 10:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I would like to disassociate myself from AL I comment frequently on this and other fora under the name Al. I am not to be confused with AL. I do not agree with him, but he has a valid point nonetheless. Even if Nelson Mandela is greatly admired and respected, even a hero, to many . .more South Africans, myself included, no one has the right to claim on behalf of all South Africans that he is a hero to ALL South Africans. PS His grandson should be tarred and feathered, and held in stocks. . .less by Al on June 01 2009, 10:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Heat Magazine We will pay R4 Million, but want a guarantee the event will happen within 6 months, otherwise no deal! by Editor on June 01 2009, 10:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

These black guys apparently know no boundaries or shame or emabarrasment Surely this story cannot be true. Machine Guns, multi wives, multi kids, girlfriend, showers is bad enough now this kind of exploitation for finacial gain is beyond the pale. The SABC SAA Eskom are an absolute mess caused by BEE appountments. Will the ANC . .more ever learn? In my view the answer is NO. May Cope or the DA take over the management of SA soon before the ANC collapse everything. Using the skills we have to transfer ownership to blacks is a policy the ANC just do not understand. . .less by Shame on you on June 01 2009, 10:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

SABC and this is the board elected just before "the big Man" Thabo Mbeki was recalled,mhhhhh, think about it, the two had collided over certain issues that concluded in mbeki and his cabinet telling TATA madiba to go home and rest it was thabo's time to . .more shine?! i wish we could stop blaming the party but a person who was in charge of the party and the country at the same time. there was no shock to the formation of COPE as that was thabo's plan too. SABC board needs to be restructured as many departments because after 9 yrs of nothing but money spending, negligence , denial and blatant lies, dont be suprised if Zuma and his troops find themselves in so much K** . .less by fyfylicious on June 01 2009, 11:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

redsean@telkomsa.net @ Matthew Botha on June 01 2009, 09:59 Why is the DA low? They got the info same place you get yours. A** hat. by Sean on June 01 2009, 11:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Now I am glad I signed up with MNET, I will never watch another SABC channel again We should boycott them so that they can go out of business, when companies realise there adverts are not reaching there viewers by Brendan on June 01 2009, 11:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ANC sleaze... has plumbed new depths. by Petr on June 01 2009, 13:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Niekie is the sleazeball he is questioning a VERY GOOD DEAL. When Mandela goes (and i trust it will not be soon) the SABC will onsell the rights for zillions...... As for van den Berg - he is a sleazeball whose only "training" was to have a phone in programme for pensioners on . .more radio. hardly the training i would want for my politician. . .less by philip on June 01 2009, 14:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Niekie Phillip how do you make the deduction that Niekie is the sleazball ??? in this affair??? You agree with the amulance chasing scheme to make money from Mandela's death and still call Niekie the sleazeball for just bringing this into the . .more open What next? Selling your daugters into slavery for a fast buck Stop smoking exotic weeds . .less by chainfire on June 01 2009, 16:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"Selling your daugters into slavery for a fast buck" It's happening all ready I'm afraid - Eastern Cape parents are selling their young female teenagers to old men with Aids looking for a believed 'cure' by having sex with virgins - in the Sunday Times this week. . .more http://tinyurl.com/n4rtn2 At least 31 have been rescued so far this year . .less by Sad days on June 01 2009, 17:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Comment on chainfire he is the sleazeball as he is purporting to be a learned and experienced man in politics. all he is is a failed radio talkshow host who mesmerized pensioners ....... come to think of it what qualifies you to take me on???? are you part of his defence . .more team??? . .less by philip on June 02 2009, 12:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Icon or values? How can any persons death be special? Should we not concern ourselves with Mandela's values and perhaps its absence in all of us? Fighting over his death? Stupid. by André on June 02 2009, 13:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Comunists are the biggest capitalist pigs are't they I would dance on any ANC grave by tgif on August 04 2009, 19:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Name
Subject
Comment