Bias+in+SABC+news+exposed+by+rival+e.tv,+B+Day

Business Day, Johannesburg, 26 August 2005
=’Bias’ in SABC news exposed by rival e.tv=


 * Ron Derby**

THE SABC’s claim that it did not air the jeering of Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at a Women’s Day rally early this month because its crew arrived late was put into question on Wednesday when free-to-air station e.tv showed the national broadcaster’s cameraman busy filming proceedings.

SABC’s failure to air the incident, which occurred just before the deputy president addressed a rally in Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal, was heavily criticised by analysts and opposition parties.

The criticism prompted the apology, with the public broadcaster saying its freelance cameraman arrived at the stadium after the jeering had taken place.

On Wednesday night e.tv showed footage of the SABC cam eraman recording the proceedings at the stadium during the booing of the deputy president — raising concerns the footage was deliberately edited out so as not to embarrass Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Policy unit co-ordinator at the Freedom of Expression Institute, Console Tleane, called the SABC’s claims “scandalous”.

He said the footage raised questions on the independence of the SABC.

SABC spokesman Paul Setsetse said the broadcaster was not in a position to comment.

“We will do so as and when we are ready.” But he confirmed the cameraman was on SABC duty.

The Democratic Alliance’s spokeswoman on communications, Dene Smuts, said e.tv’s footage should give newly appointed SABC CEO Dali Mpofu a sense of the depth of the problem of bias in the news division.


 * http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A84715