SAMWU Takes Action Against Inaccurate and Inflammatory Reporting of its Strike!

Extracts from a letter of complaint that SAMWU has registered with the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa today 20 April

Dear Madam/Sir,

I want to register a complaint in relation to television and radio coverage of the national strike that involves my Union the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) as follows:

1 On the 10.00pm E News programme of Monday on April 19^th, E News carried a story of the strike, and used film dating back from a strike that took place last year on an entirely different matter. There was no indication that the footage that was used was ‘file footage'. In my view this was manipulative and designed to create an inaccurate view of the current dispute. The file footage used in fact also showed a banner and members of a sister union (IMATU) that is not even participating in the current strike. Without notifying viewers that this is file footage they are not being truthful or accurate.

2  On SAFM (SABC) at 06.30am on Tuesday April 20^th and on at least two further half hourly news broadcasts that followed, the following phrase was used to describe the current SAMWU strike, that SAMWU had ‘left a trail of destruction' in Johannesburg and Pretoria. That was the sum total of the reporting on the half hourly broadcasts. There was no mention that in depth discussions were underway between the parties, and that a settlement was being sought.

In fact there has not been any demonstrations or incidents of ‘trashing' since the end of last week in either of  these cities and so use of such inflammatory terms must contradict the spirit and terms of the Code of Conduct. Furthermore we would argue that what has occurred in those cities does not amount to a ‘trail of destruction' which frankly is a description more befitting the situation in Iraq or Haiti. In fact, the waste on the streets of both cities is overwhelmingly there because there are no collections taking place, and not because of trashing. This does not amount to a trail of destruction which implies substantial damage to property, buildings and infrastructure. We believe this contradicts the Code of Practice.

The Code refers to speedy rectification of incorrect reporting. For the record, it took no less than fifteen phone calls to SAFM between 07.00am and 7.50am on Tuesday April 20^th in  order to make a complaint, and even then it was only possible to leave a message on an answering machine. We noted that the story disappeared completely from the 08.00am bulletin. These calls can be verified.  A call to the Morning Debate programme that followed at 08.15 or thereabouts by listener Jane Barrett did take place where these points were made. The response from the presenter who referred to his producer, should be noted, because they do imply that the story as it stood was regarded as being inappropriate. The point here, is that if the Code is to mean anything, there must be access available to the public in order to complain about inaccurate reporting.

We look forward to a speedy response from the BCCSA, and would be happy to provide any further information should it be required.

Steve Faulkner

SAMWU's International Officer

Statement issued by Tahir Sema, South African Municipal Workers' Union National Spokesperson, April 20 2010

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