FREE THE SABC FROM CENSORSHIP AND POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

The SABC is the Public Broadcaster regulated inter alia by the Broadcasting Act and is monitored by ICASA, the regulating body.

Editorial Independence – The SABC is governed by the Charter of the Corporation, which enshrines the journalistic, creative and programming independence of the staff of the corporation, and the constitutionally protected freedom of expression.

In terms of the Charter:

(8) The Corporation must develop a Code of Practice that ensures that the services and the personnel comply with-
(a) the constitutional principle of equality;
(b) the equitable treatment of all segments of the South African population;
(c) the constitutional requirement of equitable treatment of all official languages;
(d) the rights of all South Africans to receive and impart information and ideas;
(e) the mandate to provide for a wide range of audience interests, beliefs and perspectives; and
(f) a high standard of accuracy, fairness and impartiality in news and programmes that deal with matters of public interest.

1. WE INSIST THAT THE SABC COMPLIES WITH ITS OWN CHARTER, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BROADCASTING ACT.
2. THE INDEPENDENCE OF JOURNALISTS MUST BE GUARANTEED AND RESPECTED, ALL INTERFERENCE WITH NEWS AND THE REPORTING OF NEWS MUST BE STOPPED, AND ALL SUSPENDED JOURNALISTS MUST BE ALLOWED BACK AT WORK.
3. THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW. THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE OF THE SABC MUST BE REPLACED BY INDEPENDENT, NON-POLITICAL, QUALIFIED AND RESPECTED PEOPLE WITH INTEGRITY WHO WILL NOT ALLOW INTERFERENCE IN NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS.
4. THE SABC MUST LIVE AND PRACTICE ITS VISION, MISSION AND VALUES.
5. THE BULLYING, INTIMIDATION AND PURGING OF JOURNALISTS AND STAFF WITH OPPOSING VIEWS MUST END AND MANAGEMENT BY FEAR AND LITIGATION MUST STOP. (EMPLOYEES AND IN PARTICULAR JOURNALISTS ARE CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE BEING SPIED ON.)
6. THE PROMISE OF REWARD OF R100 000 FOR ANYONE PROVIDING INFORMATION IN RESPECT OF STAFF "LEAKING INFORMATION" MUST BE WITHDRAWN WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT AS IT HAS TURNED THE WORKPLACE INTO A "SPY VS SPY" SITUATION WHICH IS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR A HEALTHY WORKPLACE. IF MANAGEMENT HAS NOTHING TO HIDE, THERE IS NOTHING TO "LEAK". 

Some more information about the SABC:

VISION

The SABC inspires change through enriching, credible, relevant and compelling content that is accessible by all.

MISSION
To educate, inform and entertain all audiences accessing SABC services.

VALUES

Conversations and Partnerships
Restoration of Human Dignity
Building a Common Future

ACCORDING TO THE SABC CHARTER:

(1) The Corporation must comply with the Charter as outlined in this part.
(2) The Authority must monitor and enforce compliance with the Charter by the Corporation.
(3) In terms of this Charter, the Corporation, in pursuit of its objectives and in the exercise of its powers, enjoys freedom of expression and journalistic, creative and programming independence as enshrined in the Constitution.
(4) The Corporation must encourage the development of South African expression by providing, in South African official languages, a wide range of programming that-
(a) reflects South African attitudes, opinions, ideas, values and artistic creativity;
(b) displays South African talent in education and entertainment programmes;
(c) offers a plurality of views and a variety of news, information and analysis from a South African point of view;
(d) advances the national and public interest.
(5) (a) The Board must prepare and submit to the Authority not later than three months after the date of conversion, policies that will ensure compliance with the Authority’s Code of Conduct as prescribed and with the Corporation’s licence conditions and with the objectives contained in this Act, including:
(i) News editorial policy;
(ii) programming policy;
(iii) local content policy;
(iv) educational policy;
(v) universal service and access policy;
(vi) language policy; and
(vii) religious policy.
(b) The Corporation must notify the Authority in writing of any amendments to the policies referred to in paragraph (a) as soon as reasonably possible.
(6) The Board must ensure that there is public participation in the development of the policies referred to in subsection (5) by inviting and considering public comment on such draft policies and by other means.
(7) The Corporation must provide suitable means for regular inputs of public opinion on its services and ensure that such public opinion is given due consideration.
(8) The Corporation must develop a Code of Practice that ensures that the services and the personnel comply with-
(a) the constitutional principle of equality;
(b) the equitable treatment of all segments of the South African population;
(c) the constitutional requirement of equitable treatment of all official languages;
(d) the rights of all South Africans to receive and impart information and ideas;
(e) the mandate to provide for a wide range of audience interests, beliefs and perspectives; and
(f) a high standard of accuracy, fairness and impartiality in news and programmes that deal with matters of public interest.

BEMAWU is a specialist trade union organised at the SABC and in the media and electronic communications sector in particular. We have a number of members at the SABC who are journalists.

Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers Union (BEMAWU)    Contact the author of the petition