Hlaudi now bans the reading of newspaper headlines on SABC radio stations

8 June 2016

The DA has been reliably informed that SABC COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng has now banned the reading of newspaper headlines on all SABC radio stations. 

The reading of the morning’s newspaper headlines is a practice on radio and TV stations worldwide, particularly on news and talk radio, as a method to review stories currently in the news cycle. 

The banning of the reading of newspapers can only be viewed as yet another attempt by Motsoeneng to censor any negative news stories about the ANC on SABC radio stations ahead of the local government election. 

This is part of an on-going programme driven by Motsoeneng to only portray “sunshine news” about the ANC on SABC stations. 

It is clear that through Motsoeneng, the ANC is controlling the SABC ahead of the election and will stop at nothing to ensure that South Africans are kept in the dark in the run-up to the elections. 

Over the last year, Motsoeneng has clearly demonstrated that has no intention of providing fair and truthful coverage of the elections through:

- The attempted banning of call-ins;

- The canning of Vuyo Mvoko’s talk show;

- The canning of “the Editors” on SAFM;

- Banning of footage of violent protests; and

- Censorship and delaying of opposition TV adverts.

Motsoeneng is bad news for the SABC and bad news for South Africa. 

He has been the driver of the ‘Zumafication’ of the public broadcaster and has been protected and promoted by the ANC despite several findings against him in court and by the Public Protector.  

That is why the DA has over the last two years engaged in court action to have Motsoeneng removed as the COO of the SABC. 

During the last round in court Motsoeneng indicated that he is petitioning the SCA for leave to appeal the Western Cape High Court judgment refusing him leave to appeal.  He has until Friday to do so. The Western Cape High Court had originally found that the appointment was irrational and unlawful and thus set it aside. Should his petition to the SCA fail, which is highly likely, the DA will seek to have the Western Cape High Court’s order enforced.

In order for the SABC to become South Africa’s public broadcaster of pride, it is important that it is protected from careerists like Hlaudi Motsoeneng who will stop at nothing to please their political masters. The DA will not stop until the the independence of the public broadcaster is restored. 

Issued by Phumzile Van Damme, DA National Spokesperson, 8 June 2016