Stunning SA High Court ruling reveals SABC cranking up propaganda for Robert Mugabe
26 January, 2011 12:23:00
Zimbabwe Mail Correspondent
 The judgment relates to Mr Zikalala’s 2006 blacklisting of analysts critical of former president Thabo Mbeki, and the SABC’s coverage of elections in Zimbabwe in 2005. |
JOHANNESBURG – In stunning revelations that directly implicates former South African President Thabo Mbeki on the Zimbabwean political crisis, a South Gauteng High Court judgment ruling has revealed "unlawfully manipulating" of news items on Zimbabwe’s 2005 elections and blacklisting certain commentators perceived to be anti-Robert Mugabe.Read more »
Yesterday, a High court judge in Johannesburg ruled that the SABC was guilty of manipulating the news in 2005 and 2006, in a ruling that will boost criticism of the way the South African public broadcaster covers politics and cranked up the propaganda for Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe.
Judge Neels Claassen ruled in the South Gauteng High Court that there had been widespread manipulation of news under the SABC’s former head of news, Snuki Zikalala, and that Mr Zikalala had "dishonestly tried to cover up this manipulation".
With political interference and the hand of President Jacob Zuma clear in the appointment of Phil Molefe as Mr Zikalala’s replacement, Judge Claassen’s remarks are yet another reminder of how easily the SABC can be used as a political weapon by the government of the day.
Court affidavits by former SABC head of radio news Pippa Green and John Perlman, a former presenter on SAfm, documented interference by Mr Zikalala in day-to-day operations at the SABC.
Mr Zikalala went to Zimbabwe for the 2005 elections to negotiate the terms of SABC’s coverage, contrary to normal procedure. He warned reporters at a meeting the day after the elections he would "take action" against Ms Green and any reporter who expressed an "opinion" on Zimbabwe.
The judgment relates to Mr Zikalala’s 2006 blacklisting of analysts critical of former president Thabo Mbeki, and the SABC’s coverage of elections in Zimbabwe in 2005.
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