Publication: Sunday Independent Issued: Date: 2005-12-18 Reporter: Maureen Isaacson

Zuma Camp Protests at SABC's Axing of Interview

 

Publication 

Sunday Independent
Date

2005-12-18

Reporter

 Maureen Isaacson

Web Link

www.sundayindependent.co.za

 

The SABC has cancelled a planned interview with Jacob Zuma, sparking outrage in the Zuma camp, which has accused the corporation of censorship.

His aides yesterday confirmed that the ANC deputy president had been invited to be interviewed as "Newsmaker of the Year". Zuma, who is facing charges of rape and corruption, had accepted the invitation - but it was withdrawn at the 11th hour.

Zuma has said he intends to raise the matter formally with Dali Mpofu, the chief executive officer of the SABC, and the SABC board, in a letter that will be sent to them tomorrow.

According to Zuma's aide, Ranjeni Munusamy, Zuma was approached by the SABC to grant the interview two weeks ago. Although the interview was to be conducted by Xolani Gwala, the host of the SABC1 talk show Asikhulume, in the request the interview was billed as "Newsmaker of the Year".

Munusamy said that Zuma's office had been informed that the show would be pre-recorded on a Sunday afternoon and broadcast on SABC1 and SABC3. The show was, however, cancelled by the SABC on Wednesday night.

Mpofu told The Sunday Independent: "This was not an administrative decision. Talk to the news people."

In the wake of the cancellation there are conflicting reports about the timing of the request and the destination of the interview.

Lesego Mncwango, the SABC's acting spokesperson, said the corporation had earmarked the interview for Asikhulume only. She said the SABC had requested the interview from Zuma in time for it to appear on the programme, but the response from Zuma's aides had arrived late.

She said the response and agreement by Zuma were received after the schedule for Asikhulume for 2005 had been closed.

Mncwango cited a second reason for the cancellation: "When the interview request was made, Zuma had not yet been charged with rape. Legal advice was sought, and the editorial decision made not to proceed with the interview is in respect of the sub judice rule. It would have been virtually impossible to proceed with the interview without touching on issues that would have infringed on the sub judice rule."

According to Munusamy, the only outstanding detail in the agreement about the interview was its duration. A decision was still to be reached on whether the interview would be half an hour or a full hour.

The arrangements for the interview were confirmed earlier this week and then suddenly cancelled on Wednesday night, Munusamy said.

This is not the first time the SABC has cancelled an interview with Zuma. In July this year the national general council (NGC) of the ANC met in Pretoria. The NGC said that Zuma should be reinstated to full active duty after he had been granted a leave of absence by the party's top brass. It is understood that then, too, an SABC interview with Zuma was cancelled at the last minute.

Mo Shaik, who is also an aide to Zuma, said: "We are disappointed that the SABC has designed for itself a role which was not intended by the legislation which underlies its function as public broadcaster.

"It cannot and should not act as a censor for what the South African public should not hear."

With acknowledgements to Maureen Isaacson and Sunday Independent.


*1  We are disappointed.

The opportunity for inconsistency should be endless.