DA calls on Muthambi to withdraw controversial SABC Editorial Policy 

08 May 2016

The DA will write to Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi requesting that she withdraws the revised SABC editorial policy, and conduct thorough public participation on it.

In the SABC’s previous editorial review process in 2004, a draft version of the policy was released for public comment. 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 finalize and approve it in secret. 

The policy gives the COO of the SABC, 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. 

Another problematic inclusion in the revised policy is that it makes 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.

The DA therefore believes 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. 

It is highly unethical, and possibly illegal, that despite a promise, in writing, by the SABC, that there would be a draft editorial policy published for public comment, this did not happen.

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.

Statement issued by Phumzile Van Damme MP, DA National Spokesperson, 8 May 2016