The solution to SABC’s turmoil is clear
It wasn’t surprising to see journalists picketing outside the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) branches last week, against Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s despotic managerial actions within the public broadcaster. Mr. Motsoeneng, the SABC’s chief operating officer, is running the organization into the ground.
Under his management all SABC radio stations have been ordered to play 90% local music and 10% foreign. He didn’t end there, he then banned the broadcasting of violent protests and the reading of newspaper headlines on air. Any staff member who disagrees with his decisions is marginalized or fired. Frightening, right?
In my understanding, the role of the media is not to broadcast bad news or good news; the role of the media is to broadcast news. That Hlaudi sees it fit to order journalists what to broadcast or not to broadcast is a disgrace to South Africa’s young democracy. His destructive leadership of the SABC is a serious threat to South Africa’s press freedom and future.
The affected, journalists and other stuff members within the SABC, have had enough. Their ire over Hlaudi’s dictatorial managerial actions has reached its zenith. Some are now calling for mass action against Mr. Motsoeneng.
It’s not only those within the SABC who have been enraged by Hlaudi’s SABC censorship, also the general public at large. The public broadcaster will now face a court challenge by a lobby group on its censorship.