Minister and SABC board must urgently act on crisis at the SABC

27 June 2016

The Inkatha Freedom Party notes with grave concern the sudden resignation of SABC ‘Acting’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jimi Matthews.

IFP MP on Communications, Ms Liezl van der Merwe said, “Mr Matthews’ sudden resignation has come as a complete shock. He is held in the highest esteem and regard by the IFP. He is a person of sound integrity, a consummate professional and the SABC will be all the poorer without him.”

“The IFP is extremely concerned at the direction the SABC is taking. We fear that more key people of the calibre of Mr Matthews will also be leaving as they are being instructed to compromise on the journalistic values they hold so dear, such as freedom of press and objective, unbiased reporting.”

“The IFP calls upon Minister Faith Muthambi and the SABC Board to urgently act on the unfolding crisis at the broadcaster and address the current corrosive state of affairs, which if left ‘unchecked’ will only bring the broadcaster into further disrepute and further damage its already tarnished image. It is surprising that while the SABC stumbles from one scandal to another, those entrusted with the governance of the SABC have remained completely silent,”
“Finally, the IFP calls on the leadership of the SABC to allow its journalists to work in an environment that does not compromise their ethics and to immediately stop censuring its news,” concluded van der Merwe, MP.

Issued by LL van der Merwe on behalf of IFP, 27 June 2016