Hlaudi gets final say on SABC editorial content
SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng has taken over editorial control at the public broadcaster, in effect making himself editor-in-chief, The Sunday Times newspaper reported yesterday.
According to the report, Hlaudi has extended his powers - usurping even those of the CEO. This revised editorial policy states that Motsoeneng now has the final say on editorial matters and is responsible for all content - under the previous policy these responsibilities were the domain of the CEO.
The Democratic Alliance says it will write to Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi requesting that she withdraw this controversial revised editorial policy‚ and has urged her to conduct thorough public participation on it.
DA spokesperson on communications Phumzile Van Damme said that in the SABC’s previous editorial review process in 2004‚ a draft version of the policy had been released for public comment.
However‚ a draft was not released this time around‚ despite an undertaking from the SABC that it would do so after considering inputs on the existing policy.
“The DA discovered via a reply to a parliamentary question that the policy had been finalised in February 2016 by the SABC board and Minister Muthambi‚ in secret‚ and already being implemented‚ without full public consultation.
“We requested a copy from Minister Muthambi‚ and it became patently clear through a reading of the policy why she had chosen to finalise and approve it in secret‚” Van Damme stated.
She added that the policy gave the state broadcaster’s chief operating officer‚ Hlaudi Motsoeneng‚ total control of the SABC’s content and programming.
“Giving Motsoeneng total control of the SABC’s content means that a person appointed by and beholden to the Minister – a political appointee – will have sole authority over all SABC’s programming‚ thereby seriously compromising the SABC’s editorial independence as a public (and not state) broadcaster‚” stated Van Damme.
Another problematic inclusion in the revised policy was that it made the principle of “upward referral” mandatory and Motsoeneng’s decision on all editorial issues‚ final.
“Editors and journalists are threatened with severe consequences should they not refer “contentious” matters to their superiors and Mr Motsoeneng.
This is a complete U-turn from the old policy‚ where it was made clear that it is not management’s role to make day-to-day programming and newsroom decisions and although not ideal‚ upward referral was largely voluntary.
“It is basic principle in many news organizations worldwide that editorial decisions should to be made by news editors‚ and not management‚ in order insulate news decisions from any commercial or political considerations.
“Moreover‚ there is absolutely no reason for upward referral to the COO at the SABC; the public broadcaster has a legal department where contentious issues can be consulted‚” Van Damme said.
The DA therefore believed that in order to deal with this‚ and other contentious issues in the policy‚ the public and interested parties should be given the opportunity to voice their views on the policy before implementation. They said it was highly unethical, and quite possibly illegal, that the SABC did not publish a draft editorial policy for public comment, despite promises in writing to do so.
“The Minister must withdraw this policy‚ publish it as a draft policy‚ and conduct fresh public participation in order to redeem herself. Anything less will feed the narrative that she seeks total control of the SABC and will stop at nothing‚ including being unethical to do so‚” Van Damme added.
Hlaudi with a chance of propaganda
— Mike Sharman (@mikesharman)
So Hlaudi has given himself editorial powers that were CEO’s?— #ConceptSixty5 (@Sentletse)
's editorial policy changed. CEO stripped of powers. COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng with lower rank, now has final say on all editorial matters.— TVwithThinus (@TVwithThinus)
Hlaudi [ Matricless ] Motsoeneng is a king at SABC he is untouchable, he has more power now.
— David Milis (@DavidMilis)
