The Star
*SABC news boss in censorship row* *Janine Stephen and Moshoeshoe Monare, The Star, Johannesburg, 25 May 2010*SABC news boss Phil Molefe has been accused of instructing the broadcaster's newsroom not to run stories about his contentious appointment unless they are sourced from board chairman Ben Ngubane and group chief executive Solly Mokoetle.
This is despite 10 of the 12 members of the board overturning Ngubane and Mokoetle's decision to appoint Molefe, and declaring the appointment null and void.
Effectively, all board members besides Mokoetle and Ngubane are opposed to the appointment.
The move has polarised the newly appointed board, which came to office after years of intense divisions among members of the board and executive management.
The position of the head of news has always been contentious, with previous incumbent Snuki Zikalala's appointment and departure sparking controversies.
Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda told The Star last night that he was out of the country, but would call all parties involved to solve the issue.
"I will definitely (intervene) as soon as I come back," he said.Morale in the SABC newsroom is very low, according to some staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The broadcaster's radio stations were yesterday instructed not to rerun a story critical of Molefe's appointment, said an insider at the SABC close to the appointment process.
Molefe, who is in China with Mokoetle, was said to have sent an SMS to news editors yesterday saying comment on "the appointment of the head of news will only be sourced from the chair of the board or the GCEO". The SMS was signed "Regards, Phil".
Molefe could not be reached for comment despite calls and SMSes left for him.
The source said that although a story reporting on unions' reaction to the board's decision to overturn Molefe's appointment was prepared by the news department and did run, it was later pulled.
Another story that quoted a commentator critical of the way Molefe was appointed was reportedly also canned.
"For me, it's intimidation and censorship," the source said. SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said he was unable to comment.The Star reported on Friday that an SABC radio interview with deputy board chairwoman Feleng Sekha was also not run. Sekha, the first board member to publicly criticise the appointment of Molefe, confirmed that her interview was not aired.
Ironically, she and other board members released a statement through the SABC corporate communications department declaring Molefe's appointment null and void.
*From: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5484420* -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
<<attachment: star.gif>>
