SACP STATEMENT ON ATTEMPTS BY E-NEWS/E-TV GROUP NEWS EDITOR TO BULLY THE SACP

Subsequent to our release of a media statement on the double standards of SANEF, the SACP received what amounts to a bullying call from one Mr. Ben Said of E-news/e-TV. Mr. Said demanded that our Spokesperson present him with evidence of unprecedented resignations at E-news/e-TV. He further demanded that our Spokesperson retracts the statement or else he and E-TV/e-news will lodge a case of defamation.

The SACP differs sharply with this approach and will not succumb to the bullying. Who is Ben Said after all to think that he can threaten and bully the South African Communist Party? We do not owe our existence to media or the E-news/e-TV! For most of our existence since 1921 we have actually been battered and insulted by the white colonial bourgeois and apartheid media, but we are nevertheless part of the forces that have been victorious over apartheid and we are part of the forces leading the reconstruction and transformation of our country to benefit of the overwhelming majority of South Africans.

It is a well known fact that in the past three months or so E-news/e-TV has lost 6 reporters, 4 editors including a sub-editor and an anchor for the Africa Bulletin who was with the channel just for two months. Unless Mr. Said and E-news/e-TV can prove that this has been normal in the course of their business, we remain steadfast that this is unprecedented and is a sign of a crisis. Sadly, SANEF has turned a blind eye and is conveniently quite busy chasing the Sekunjalo consortium.

Since SANEF, Nick Dawes, Peter Bruce and Anton Harber have now found the appetite to enter the fray on transformation debate, can they explain to us why they are conveniently silent of an undisputed fact that almost all senior, if not all, key editorial positions at E-news/e-TV are occupied by not only males but whites. There is no employment equity at E-news/e-TV and this we find objectionable and against the imperatives of reversing the legacy of apartheid.

We are not interested in lawsuits. The SACP is interested in a dialogue about media transformation. We would be quite keen to engage with the owners of  E-news/e-TV and not Ben Said on these matters. It is the E-news/e-TV's right to ignore the SACP and the 2013 State of the Nation Address, but it cannot at the same time claim that it is open and impartial in its news coverage!

As the SACP we are very keen on a frank and structured debate on media transformation. The SACP will continue to mobilise the public into a proper debate about media transformation not some sideshows pursued for narrow anti-transformation agendas. We will continue to point out at any untransformed institution in society, and are determined to expose E-news/e-TV for what it is, a channel run by a white boys club that has prejudice against our movement, its programme and its leaders.

We would also be more than happy to debate all the above and other issues with E-news/e-TV publicly in its own platforms!

Without Fear, Favour or Prejudice - In the interest of a truly diverse Media!

Statement issued by the SACP 2nd Deputy General Secretary, Cde Solly Mapaila, June 5 2013

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