A sign of another SABC editorial interference by ruling party

Congress of the People (COPE) is livid by an editorial instruction to SABC staff issued by SABC head of news, Mr Jimi Matthews yesterday afternoon.

It reads: "Dear All,

Your are hereby notified that, with immediate effect, President Zuma's Nkandla home should be referred to as the President's, or Mr Zuma's,"Nkandla residence", and not a "compound" or "Homestead" or any other such term. Please also refrain from using imported terminology in reporting on the controversy surrounding the infrastructural developments around the residence, such as "Nkandlagate", "Zumaville" and such like.."

Regards,

Jimi Matthews"

This is the latest incident of ongoing Luthuli House news manipulation. This deplorable political censorship is a direct attack on freedom of expression and the editorial independence of the SABC.

This does not only destroy the credibility of SABC news, but the very
integrity of the SABC as an independent public broadcaster.

COPE condemns any form of censorship and partisan meddling into what South Africans should hear and what not. The SABC belongs to South Africans, not to a ruling faction of the ANC.

This email is irregular and it contravenes the Broadcasting Act and the SABC license agreement with ICASA. This matter will be reported to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

Statement issued by Juli Kilian MP: COPE Spokeswoman on Communications, November 6 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter