Snuki+warning+not+enough,+SACP,+COSATU,+YCL,+ANCYL

SACP Media Release, 08 March 2007
=SABC board is letting us down=

The SACP has learnt with utter shock and dismay that the SABC Board has decided to give Mr Snuki Zikalala, the man fingered with blacklisting certain commentators, a slap of the wrist for his appalling actions.

The actions by Mr Zikalala and the subsequent action by the Board has reaffirmed our long held view that the SABC News Division is increasingly being allowed to play, amongst other things, a more factionalist role in the nature and character of its reporting, especially on matters relating to our broad movement. The question of censorship is indeed a very, very serious matter. We did not wage the struggle for the liberation of this country and the transformation of the public broadcaster only to return to some of the worst practices of the SABC under the apartheid regime.

The SABC Board needs to examine itself carefully and where it is taking the broadcaster to. We intend raising these matters very sharply when we meet with this Board. If the SABC is not going to lose the confidence of the public, it is important that it is seen to be upholding the values and principles that should be reflective of the public broadcaster of reporting without fear or favour.

We are owed a better explanation

Issue by the SACP.

For information contact:


 * Malesela Maleka**
 * SACP Spoekesperson**
 * Mobile: 082 226 1802**
 * Tel: 011 339 3621**
 * Fax: 011 339 4244**
 * e-mail: Malesela@sacp.org.za**
 * [|www.sacp.org.za]**



COSATU Media Release, Thu 2007/03/08 04:12 PM
=COSATU shocked at leniency for Snuki Zikalala=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is appalled at the leniency that the SABC has shown to its head of News and Current Affairs, Snuki Zikalala, on charges that he was responsible for a policy of blacklisting political commentators.

The independent commission headed by Zwelakhe Sisulu and Gilbert Marcus confirmed the existence of “an arbitrary blacklist of outside commentators who should not be consulted”. They also said that “there is a climate of fear in the broadcaster’s newsrooms” and were scathing about “the arbitrary decision-making, the iron-fist rule and the lack of editorial knowledge of the news and current affairs managing director Snuki Zikalala”.

It said Zikalala “appears to intervene at a micro-level inappropriate to his level of management … in a seemingly ad hoc and inconsistent manner … and then belatedly attempted to develop policy guidelines in regard to these practices”.

The report recommended the SABC Board to “take close cognisance of the concerns about the particular management style of Dr Zikalala as outlined in this report, particularly regarding problems of communication and the inappropriately narrow interpretation of the SABC’s mandate.”

These are extremely serious charges, amounting to a conscious policy of political censorship and bias. Yet the SABC has done little more than give the man responsible a polite talking-to, in the form of a ‘verbal warning’ not to repeat his offences. It implies that they do not consider political censorship as a serious matter.

It is indicative of the management’s attitude that, before his resignation, they were considering taking similar disciplinary action against John Perlman, for publicly exposing the blacklisting policy on air.

As the Commission put it: “Perlman’s position ‘was in conformity with the factual situation’.” Yet the SABC was in effect equating the guilty party with the whistleblower who exposed his misdeeds, and treating their ‘offences’ as comparable. Perlman should not only not have been threatened with disciplinary action but commended for his integrity and courage.

His departure, and that of other experienced journalists, is indicative of the low morale which the report identified.

This decision further increases COSATU’s concerns at the crisis within our public broadcaster. There is clear evidence that it is being manipulated to promote one particular point of view and to smother any expression of contrary opinions.

COSATU echoes the view of the SACP that “we did not wage the struggle for the liberation of this country and the transformation of the public broadcaster only to return to some of the worst practices of the SABC under the apartheid regime”.

COSATU will be intensifying its campaign for the SABC to adhere to its constitutional mandate to be a forum for all South Africans, and not the mouthpiece of any faction or vested interest.




 * __YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE OF SOUTH AFRICA__**


 * PRESS STATEMENT, 08 March 2007**

=YCL abhors SABC decision on Zikalala!=

The Young Communist League abhors and rejects with contempt the decision of the SABC Board to give Snuki Zikalala a verbal warning on the blacklisting and censorship of prominent journalists.

As the YCL we view his actions or conduct as a serious offence and his continued presence as the Head of News will create a sense of doubt in relation to fair and unbiased reporting by the public broadcaster. The continued sidelining of the YCL, COSATU and the SACP on key issues by the SABC, the blame should be place on Zikalala’s door and as a result of his ‘//Snukification’// of the SABC News Division. Since his tenure as the MD of News has been used as factionalist mouthpiece by Zikalala and his political handlers in tilting the balance of forces and settling of political scores in the Liberation Movement broadly.

The YCL calls on both the dismissal of the SABC Board and Dr Snuki Zikalala from their duties because they have all acted against the mandate of the SABC of being a truly independent and non-partisan public broadcaster.

Issued by the Young Communist League

For more information contacts:


 * Castro Ngobese**
 * YCL Spokesperson**
 * Cell: 082 567 3557**



=ANC Youth League Statement, 8 March 2007=

=FOR THE SABC TO APOLOGISE=

The ANC Youth League welcomes the decision by the SABC Board, to give a written warning to the Mr. Snuki Zikalala in relation to the allegations of arbitrarily blacklisting of the outside commentator's, and the subsequent findings of the Sisulu Commission.

The decision by the SABC Board to give him a warning confirms the findings of the Sisulu Commission, and a further proof that Mr. Zikalala acted inappropriately and in contrast with the SABC editorial policy.

In the light of flagrant denials by the SABC spin doctors about the existence of such allegations. It is only proper and decent that SABC must apologise for misleading the public as part of remedial steps recommended by the Commission.

It is now common-cause, that people were blacklisted without any due consideration of SABC procedures and policies.

More information contact **Zizi Kodwa, 082 330 4910**

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