Why is Abbey doing a Bulelani? SABC Political Editor needs to explain himself
Black journalists have every right to revive a race-exclusive organization, however regrettable that may be - but the Fourth Estate is as much a part of the democratic state as the politicians it constantly holds up to scrutiny, and the new Forum needs to explain its bona fides and the reasons for the revival to the public . The Political Editor of the public broadcaster, in particular, had better account to us. Mr Abbey Makoe is the acting chairperson of the new Forum. But he holds a particular position of trust towards South Africans of all cultures, colours and political persuasions.
The need for an explanation is all the more urgent because Mr Jacob Zuma was the guest of the Forum at its closed meeting. We all remember that Mr Bulelani Ngcuka, as National Director of Public Prosecutions, gave an exclusive group of black editors an unorthodox off-the record briefing when Mr Zuma was first being investigated five years ago. "This was no ordinary media briefing, it was a character assassination exercise", Mr Zuma said in a complaint to the Public Protector at the time, arguing that Ngcuka was abusing his position and not acting in good faith.
Is Abbey giving Mr Zuma a platform to do a Bulelani? It is to Mr Zuma's credit that he held a nonracial press conference immediately after the event. But what did he say behind closed doors? What questions did the black journalists feel they could only ask in camera? What is the agenda?
The question is inevitable, and that is what makes the race-exclusive forum problematic. In the case of the SABC it is not just problematic, it is unacceptable. The SABC has been called to report to the Parliamentary Communications Committee on the aftermath of the Blacklisting Report this week. A whole new set of questions on the subject of exclusion and censorship now arise as a result of its Political Editor's actions.
Statement issued by Dene Smuts MP, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on Communications, February 24 2008
