DA to request meeting with SABC Head of News over special Zuma broadcast

Last night the SABC interrupted normal programming to give live coverage to a speech that President Jacob Zuma was delivering at a dinner function.

Today I will request a meeting with Head of News at the SABC, Jimmy Matthews, over this special live broadcast granted to President Zuma.

It is unclear why the speech was afforded live coverage. There was no new announcement in the speech, or indeed anything that would ordinarily be considered newsworthy. In fact, the President's speech sounded much like an election speech - he used the opportunity to rattle off a list of supposed government achievements.

On the face of it, last night's broadcast amounts to nothing more than political abuse of the national broadcaster. This is unacceptable at any time, but particularly so just months before a national election.

President Zuma faces a tough election - he is deeply unpopular, more South Africans are unemployed now than when he first took office, and there are many unanswered questions about his personal conduct and the riches he has accumulated in office. But the President is not entitled to abuse the public broadcaster to drum up support for his party. 

The SABC leadership must explain:

- on what basis the decision was made to cover this speech live

- why it could not be reported on in normal news bulletins

- what particular announcement or newsworthy factor in the speech made it worth live coverage in prime time

- how the SABC will avoid further such abuses in the run up to the 2014 election

- whether the same courtesy will be offered to other the leaders of other national political parties

I will write to the SABC today to request this meeting at which I will seek explanations on these questions.

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane, DA National Spokesperson, August 1 2013

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