Editing SABC (section)

== Criticisms and controversies ==

=== Accusations of pro-ANC bias ===
The SABC has been accused of being a government and [[African National Congress|ruling party]] mouthpiece, particularly in the lead-up to the [[South African general election, 2014|2014 South African elections]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Ed|first=Herbst|title=ANC tightens its grip on the SABC|url=http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/66/101739.html#topstory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232903/http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/66/101739.html#topstory|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 December 2013|publisher=BizCommunity.com|access-date=23 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=SABC phone tapping revelations|url=http://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadcasting/100474-sabc-phone-tapping-revelations.html|publisher=MyBroadband|access-date=13 April 2014}}</ref> particularly after it refused to air the campaign adverts of various opposition parties,<ref>{{cite web|title=DA cries 'political censorship' as SABC refuses to air second advert|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2014/04/30/da-cries-political-censorship-as-sabc-refuses-to-air-second-advert|publisher=Times Live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=SABC bans EFF advert|url=http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2014/04/22/sabc-bans-eff-advert---video|publisher=Sowetan Live}}</ref> and again in 2015 when it censored the video feeds of the 2015 State of the Nation address that portrayed the ANC and President Jacob Zuma in a negative light.<ref>{{cite web|title=SABC censored SONA broadcast|url=http://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadcasting/118913-sabc-censored-sona-broadcast-enca-satellite-signal-jammed.html|website=mybroadband.co.za|publisher=mybroadband|access-date=15 February 2015}}</ref>
In 2015, Minister of Communications, [[Faith Muthambi]] reinforced the notion that the SABC was a state-owned company, and therefore, subject to control by the Department of Communications and the [[African National Congress|ruling party]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The SABC is a state owned company: Communications Minister|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2015/03/17/the-sabc-is-a-state-owned-company-communications-minister|access-date=17 March 2015|agency=Sapa|publisher=Times LIVE}}</ref>

In August 2005, the SABC came under heavy fire from independent media and the public for failing to broadcast footage in which deputy president [[Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka]] was booed offstage by members of the [[ANC Youth League]], who were showing support for the newly axed ex-deputy president, [[Jacob Zuma]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=248529&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/|title=Mail and Guardian article on Youth League Controversy|access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref>

Rival broadcaster [[e.tv]] publicly accused SABC of biased reporting for failing to show the video footage of the humiliated deputy president. [[Snuki Zikalala]], Head of News and ex-ANC spokesperson retorted that their cameraman had not been present at the meeting. This claim was later established to be false when e.tv footage was released which showed an SABC cameraman filming the incident.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundayindependent.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=1042&fArticleId=2872217|title=Sunday Independent|accessdate=28 February 2023}}</ref>

The SABC's government connections also came under scrutiny when, in April 2005, Zimbabwean president [[Robert Mugabe]] was interviewed live by Zikalala, who is a former ANC [[political commissar]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.co.za/2004/07/25/insight/in02.asp|title=Insight|website=suntimes.co.za|date=25 July 2004|access-date=1 October 2005|archive-date=16 February 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050216154216/http://www.suntimes.co.za/2004/07/25/insight/in02.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> The interview was deemed by the public to have sidestepped 'critical issues', and to have avoided difficult questions regarding Mugabe's radical land-reform policies and human rights violations.

=== Accusations of censorship ===

In May 2006, the SABC was accused of [[self censorship|self-censorship]] when it decided not to air a documentary on South African president [[Thabo Mbeki]], and in early June 2006, the news organisation requested that the producers (from Daylight Films) not speak about it. This was widely criticised by independent media groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=6&art_id=vn20060610091410712C874542|title=IOL News Report|accessdate=28 February 2023}}</ref> In response, the [[International Freedom of Expression Exchange]] issued an alert concerning the SABC's apparent trend toward self-censorship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/74682/|title=IFEX Self-Censorship Warning|accessdate=28 February 2023}}</ref>

In June 2006, the [[International Federation of Journalists]] denounced the cancelling of the Thabo Mbeki documentary, citing "self-censorship" and "politically-influenced managers".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20060619012849541C504021|title=IFOJ comment on Mbeki documentary|accessdate=28 February 2023}}</ref>

Also in June 2006, [[SAfm]] host [[John Perlman]] disclosed on air that the SABC had created a blacklist of commentators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/|title=Business Day|website=BusinessLIVE|accessdate=28 February 2023}}</ref> A commission of inquiry was created by SABC CEO [[Dali Mpofu]] to investigate the allegations that individuals had been blacklisted at the behest of Zikalala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3015&art_id=vn20060624083017227C257392|title=IOL on blacklisting allegations|accessdate=28 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=275243&area=/insight/insight__national/|title=MG on blacklisting allegations|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215153/http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=275243&area=%2Finsight%2Finsight__national%2F|archive-date=27 September 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Perlman eventually resigned from SAfm, and the broadcaster came under heavy criticism from free media advocates.

Shortly before the ANC's 2012 elective conference in Mangaung, the board of the SABC handed control of news, television, radio and sport to COO [[Hlaudi Motsoeneng]]. The board's decision was interpreted by some at the SABC as a calculated attempt to ensure that an ANC faction close to President Jacob Zuma was given positive coverage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2012-10-05-00-sabc-chief-takes-control|title=SABC chief takes control|date=5 October 2012}}</ref> During a press conference held by the SABC on 6 December 2012, to explain why it had prevented three journalists from participating in a discussion on how the media would cover the ANC's elective conference in Manguang, Hlaudi Motsoeneng said that whenever the ANC is discussed on the SABC an ANC party representative must be present.

In April 2014, journalists were warned by SABC chairperson, Ellen Zandile Tshabalala, that their phones were being wiretapped by the [[National Intelligence Agency (South Africa)|NIA]], and reminded them to be loyal to the ANC ruling party. When challenged on the matter, Tshabalala insisted that her comments had been taken out of context. The scandal erupted at the same time that the DA official opposition accused the SABC of censorship<ref>{{cite web|title=SABC censoring our adverts: DA|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2014/04/11/sabc-censoring-our-adverts-da|publisher=TimesLive|access-date=13 April 2014}}</ref> when they stopped airing a television advert that referred to the ongoing [[Nkandlagate]] scandal.

In February 2015, the SABC was accused of censoring video and audio feeds of the State of the Nation address in Parliament, after opposition party [[Economic Freedom Fighters|EFF]] was forcefully ejected by armed plain-clothes policemen after interrupting the President's speech. Footage of opposition party [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|DA]] walking out in protest over the presence of the armed personnel was also censored. This was in addition to the presence of a signal-jamming device that prevented journalists and MP's from being able to use their mobile devices to post news online.<ref>{{cite web|title=SONA: What the ANC did not let the nation see|url=http://themediaonline.co.za/2015/02/sona-what-the-anc-did-not-let-the-nation-see/|website=The Media Online|access-date=15 February 2015}}</ref>

The SABC was criticised for banning footage that showed protests and demonstrations in the run-up to the 2016 local elections.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mahr |first1=Krista |date=13 July 2016 |title=South African public broadcaster accused of censorship |newspaper=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3646af1e-490c-11e6-8d68-72e9211e86ab |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/3646af1e-490c-11e6-8d68-72e9211e86ab |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref> In July 2016, eight SABC journalists challenged the broadcaster's decision to censor news items, and were dismissed from the organisation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/sabc-8-have-all-been-fired-20160719|title=SABC 8 have all been fired|newspaper=News24|access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2016-07-19-breaking-news-sabc-fires-two-more-journalists/|title=Two more of the #SABC8 journalists have been fired|author=News 24|newspaper=The M&G Online|access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref>   A subsequent hearing at the Labour Court found the dismissals were unlawful and ordered the reinstatement of four of the full-time SABC employees.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36867985|title=South Africa sacked reporters win SABC censorship case|date=26 July 2016|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref>  During this period the eight journalists, including [[Suna Venter]], were subjected to a number of death threats and other forms of intimidation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2016-09-18-death-threats-spook-sabc-staffers/|title=Death threats spook SABC staffers|last=HOFSTATTER|first=STEPHAN|date=18 September 2016|website=Timesonline.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629205558/https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2016-09-18-death-threats-spook-sabc-staffers/|archive-date=29 June 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=1 July 2017}}</ref>

In October 2016,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gov.za/speeches/communications-committee-set-begin-inquiry-sabc-board-13-oct-2016-0000|title=Parliament on inquiry into SABC board &#124; South African Government|website=www.gov.za|access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref> the South African parliament began investigating corruption allegations against SABC and its Group Executive of Corporate Affairs - Hlaudi Motsoeneng.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/censorship-and-corruption-whats-going-south-africas-public-broadcaster-532421?rx=us|title=Five things you should know about South Africa's scandal-hit public broadcaster|date=16 December 2016|newspaper=Newsweek|access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref> On 12 December, the Western Cape High Court ruled that Motsoeneng be removed from office effective immediately.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ewn.co.za/2016/12/12/hlaudi-removed-sabc|title=High Court rules Hlaudi Motsoeneng must be removed from position|last=Brandt|first=Kevin|access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref>

=== SABC Encore's launch party ===

At the channel's launch event, the COO of SABC at the time used that event to rant about making pay-TV platforms like MultiChoice's DStv pay for SABC 1-3 and how the SABC is run by a 'blind person'. He also took the stage to call out those with their 'lack of knowledge' over the deal the public broadcaster has for the channel alongside SABC News.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://teeveetee.blogspot.com/2015/05/at-bizarre-sabc-encore-channel-launch.html?m=1|title = TV with Thinus: At bizarre SABC Encore channel launch event, SABC's Hlaudi Motsoeneng rants and raves, saying 'MultiChoice must pay'; SABC is 'coming for pay-TV'|date = 12 May 2015}}</ref>