
8 JULY 2016

8 JULY 2016

In November last year, the SABC’s previous CEO, Frans Matlala, was erroneously suspended for acting in a manner “too independent” for Mr Motsoeneng and Minister of Propaganda, Faith Muthambi.
In March this year, the SABC cancelled senior political journalist Vuyo Mvoko’s show, On The Record, after he had planned to discuss state capture by the Guptas on a future instalment of his show.
In May this year, the SABC refused to air the DA’s election adverts, citing “delays in the IEC’s work with respect to the elections”.
In June this year, Hlaudi banned the reading of newspaper headlines on all SABC radio stations.
Also in June this year, The Editors – a very popular programme on SAFM on Sunday mornings where the political events of the week are critically analysed, debated and discussed by newspaper journalists and editors – was discontinued.
Just last week, Hlaudi Motsoeneng placed a ban of visuals of community protests involving the destruction of public property in Tshwane.
Fellow South Africans, our constitution protects freedom of the press and the free flow of information by stating that “everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom of the press and other media, and freedom to receive or impart information or ideas”.
Nowhere in the Constitution does it say – “unless the President does not approve, or unless it paints the government and governing party in a bad light”.

“This year’s election is the most important since the dawn of our democracy in 1994. On 3 August, South Africans face a choice: either more of the same broken promises and joblessness under the ANC; or real and positive change that will help move our country forward again” (Democratic Alliance, 26.06.2016).
“This year, on 3 August, South Africans face a choice:
5 more years of corruption, nepotism, joblessness and deteriorating service delivery; or CHANGE that will move South Africa forward again. This is the change that brings about job creation, delivers better services, and stops corruption. While we have made progress since 1994, the ANC has now put our country on the wrong path. We have the opportunity to change this – and ensure that we move in the right direction again. The direction that Nelson Mandela dreamed of” (Mmusi Maimane, 26.06.2016).
“Pretoria, 24 June 2016 – President Jacob Zuma has suffered another legal blow. Zuma and the NPA have been denied leave to appeal the so-called spy tapes ruling. eNCA reporter Nickolaus Bauer has more from the North Gauteng High Court” (eNCA, 2016)

