SABC+blacklisting+report,+COSATU+Media+Release

COSATU Media Release, 13-Oct-2006 11:09
=SABC blacklisting report=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions calls upon the SABC to publish the full report of the Commission headed by Gilbert Marcus and Zwelakhe Sisulu into allegations of blacklisting of commentators.

While COSATU welcomes the publication of a summary of the report, we are concerned that yet again a public debate is being conducted largely on the basis of leaked versions of the full report. COSATU will not comment on reports based on leaks by faceless ‘sources’. It is essential that the whole report be published so that the issue is debated with the fullest possible transparency, on the basis of what is actually in the report and not leaks. COSATU will make a fuller comment when the full report is officially released.

In particular, COSATU wants to know whether the report deals with COSATU’s question about remarks allegedly made at an ANC media briefing by “a senior SABC personality” about the need to ‘isolate and neutralise’ COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi.

If this question is not dealt with in the Commission’s report, we still want a reply to our demand that the SABC disassociate itself from this comment and that if any person from the SABC did make that comment that she or he resign his or her position.

COSATU reasserts its belief in the need for a truly independent public broadcaster, which never plays a partisan role or forms part of factions in our movement.


 * Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)**
 * Congress of South African Trade Unions**
 * 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets**
 * Braamfontein, 2017**


 * P.O.Box 1019**
 * Johannesburg, 2000**
 * SOUTH AFRICA**


 * Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24**
 * Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667**
 * Cell: 0828217456**
 * E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za**

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