SABC should air “Miners Shot Down” not ANC study group

26 November 2015

The statement by SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago that it will continue to negotiate the airing of “Miners Shot Down” “if there are available documentary slots...” is a veiled refusal to air this seminal work of great public importance.

The decision not to broadcast “Miners Shot Down” immediately follows the SABC’s decision to provide live broadcast to ANC study group this weekend – at no cost and in contravention of their editorial policy

Instead of airing the ANC's Study Group, the DA challenges the SABC to use this slot to air "Miners Shot Down", which unlike the study group, is a matter of national importance as defined in the SABC's Editorial Policy.

The ANC too, should give up this slot for the "Miners Shot Down" to be aired.

It is unacceptable that the public has been denied the opportunity to see this world-class documentary because it tells the story of the Marikana massacre from the perspective of the miners and critical of the ANC government and the Deputy President's role in the massacre.This is the reality the SABC is helping the ANC to obscure.

It is widely known that the SABC has an agenda to broadcast more and more "good news" stories, basking the government in false glory, rather than broadcasting the truth. Keeping “Miners Shot Down” from the public is prioritising "good news" over reality.

Placing the broadcast of ANC propaganda above the broadcast of a documentary on Marikana once again shows that the SABC has lost all independence as a public broadcaster and is nothing more than an ANC propaganda machine. The public must be shown the truth of what happened at Marikana.

The DA urges the SABC to fulfil its mandate as a public broadcaster and as a matter of urgency and air “Miners Shot Down” instead of the ANC study group this weekend

Issued by Phumzile Van Damme, Shadow Minister of Communications, DA, 26 November 2015