SABC reneges on agreement to cover DA Congress live
07 May 2014
The Democratic Alliance learnt yesterday of the intention of the SABC to renege on its commitment to cover the DA Federal Congress in Nelson Mandela Bay, live on terrestrial television.
We have this afternoon had a telephonic discussion with SABC Head of News, Jimi Matthews, and have attempted to telephone the SABC’s Mr. Hlaudi Motsoeneng. At this stage, the SABC is unwavering in their decision against agreements for live coverage.
It is manifestly in the public interest that a national elective congress of the Official Opposition in South Africa, representing over 4 million votes, receives coverage on the National Broadcaster.
Both the public interest, and the SABC’s own editorial policy demand that this congress be broadcast to all South Africans, on the National Broadcaster.