MEDIA STATEMENT
SABC MORNING LIVE INTERVIEW OF HLAUDI
MOTSOENENG
Johannesburg, Tuesday, 11 December 2018 – The South
African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has noted concerns by
members of the public, following an interview with the
Corporation’s

former

Chief

Operating

Officer,

Mr

Hlaudi

Motsoeneng. SABC News has been carrying several stories and
interviews with various stakeholders, regarding the dire financial
situation of the public broadcaster. Some of these have been
very critical of Mr Motsoeneng’s role during his term at the
Corporation, and how his decisions are believed to have led to
the current financial crisis that the SABC is experiencing. While it
is understandable that featuring him on our news programmes
would generate anger and discomfort for some of our audiences,
it is our journalistic obligation to afford him the ‘right to reply’. He
had to be given the opportunity to state his side of the story as
he has widely been condemned as the architect of the SABC's
collapse.
Furthermore, clause 13.2 of the Broadcasting Complaints
Commission of SA Code indicated below, calls upon us to
exercise fairness as follows:

 A person whose views are to be criticised in
a broadcasting programme on a controversial issue of
public importance must be given the right to reply to
such criticism on the same programme. If this is
impracticable, reasonable opportunity to respond to the
programme should be provided where appropriate,
for example in a right to reply programme or in a prearranged discussion programme with the prior
consent of the person concerned.
As a public service, SABC News continues to strive to ensure
that journalistic principles are adhered to, to maintain balance
and evenhandedness in its news coverage. It is within this spirit
that Mr Motsoeneng was given the right to reply to criticism that
has been leveled against him in our reportage. Additionally, the
public news service takes its mandate seriously by ensuring
diversity and plurality in the voices it reflects in covering the
South African story. We want to assure South Africans that we
remain committed to providing comprehensive, diverse and
inclusive news content, in a manner that is unrestrained,
independent and impartial.
END
Issued By:
Media Enquiries:

Group Communications
Neo Momodu GE: Corporate Affairs &

Marketing/Spokesperson
MomoduN@sabc.co.za   T. 011 714 3311  C. 079 462 5081