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Faith Muthambi

JOHANNESBURG. — South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday urged Communications Minister Faith Muthambi to investigate suspension of some journalists by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

“We will call for an inquiry into the allegations, which tarnish the ANC. You need to ensure that we have people who know how to run an institution as big as the SABC. You can’t bring any Tom, Dick or Harry to run the SABC,” Jackson Mthembu, chairperson of the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) Sub-Committee on Communications, said.

He was addressing the media in Johannesburg after the SABC suspended six journalists who are facing disciplinary action for covering violent protests in Pretoria last month.

Mthembu said the ANC will also meet the SABC board and Communications Minister Muthambi next week over alleged censorship at the national broadcaster. He expressed hope that the investigations would clear the image of the ANC, which is accused of deciding the editorial policy at the national broadcaster.

Mthembu denied the allegations that the ANC is responsible for the editorial policy at the SABC, saying: “Decisions that limit media freedom cannot be sanctioned by the ANC. We have never asked anybody at the SABC to speak for the ANC. Nobody at the SABC represents the ANC.”

Problems came to the fore when SABC Chief Operating Officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng instructed journalists not to cover the violent protests in Pretoria.

Mthembu also denied allegations that his party is favoured by the SABC.

“The decision of the SABC to desist from showing images of the destruction of property has not been consulted with or condoned by the ANC.

“There is nobody in South Africa who needs somebody else to decide for them which pictures they must see,” he said.

The national broadcaster is under fire for not showing the opposition political parties as much as they do with the ANC. As the ruling party, the ANC should have been consulted if there is need for editorial change, Mthembu said. — Xinhua.