Muthambi misleading the public about secret SABC Editorial Policy
10 May 2016
In a statement yesterday, the Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi, purposefully misled the public about the manner in which the revised SABC editorial policy was approved.
She claims that there was thorough public participation and the policy was not approved in secret.
This is incorrect and untrue.
The facts speak for themselves: Minister Muthambi reneged on promises she made to the public and sector stakeholders for thorough public participation, and approved the policy with the SABC board, in secret.
Specifically, the Minister and the SABC failed to action after committing to:
1. release a draft revised policy for public comment;
2. take the received public comments and incorporate those into a revised policy which would then be put through the appropriate approval process; and after which;
3. a public education campaign would ensue.
None of this happened.
The SABC made the commitment for thorough public consultation following the submission of public comment on the then existing SABC editorial policy, in a statement on 11 February 2014, Graham Welch: SABC General Manager - Editorial Policy and Governance, indicated that:
"Following the February submission deadline, the collation of all the inputs will be finalised. These, together with benchmark studies and inputs from SABC staff will inform any revisions to the policies. Any changes to the policies will also have to be guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and adhere to all legislative and regulatory requirements. The revised policies will be released for public comment. Any changes that emerge as result of this round of engagements will be incorporated into the revised policies that will then follow the appropriate approval process before the process of implementation. Implementation will not be limited to the roll-out of the policies at the SABC, but will also include a public education element. The SABC Editorial Policy Review process is also approaching a significant milestone – the 14th February 2014 deadline for written submissions from the public on the current policies.”
Instead, the SABC board finalised and approved the revised policy in February 2016, and proceeded to begin implementing it, without informing the public, Parliament or stakeholders in the sector.
No public announcement was ever made by either the SABC board or Minister Muthambi of a new editorial policy, thus shrouding the process in secrecy. It was only when the DA submitted a parliamentary question requesting an update on the policy did Minister Muthambi indicate that it was approved a month earlier and already being implemented.
The DA will write to the new Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Communications, Humphrey Maxegwana requesting that Minister Muthambi be summoned to Parliament to account on the controversial policy and the manner in which it was approved.
It is clear that the Minister wanted to avoid a public participation process on the policy as it gives Hlaudi Motsoeneng, a political appointee beholden to her office, full control of the SABC’s editorial content and programming. Interestingly, Minister Muthambi does not deny this in her statement.
Contrary to what Minister Muthambi states, not only was the manner in which the revised editorial policy approved procedurally incorrect, but substantively, its contents are counter to the spirit of the Constitution which requires an independent broadcaster, and would not stand to judicial scrutiny.
Minister Muthambi would do well to withdraw this policy, publish it as a draft, conduct the promised public participation and submit a final properly consulted editorial policy for South Africa’s public broadcaster.
We trust that the newly-appointed Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Communications, Humphrey Maxegwana will grant our request, and continue the culture of accountability of his predecessor Joyce Moloi-Moropa.
Issued by Phumzile Van Damme, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, 10 May 2016
