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Alert

SABC journalists harassed by government officials in separate incidents

(MISA/IFEX) - In the first week of May, provincial government officials barred South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) television journalists and a camera crew from entering the Limpopo provincial legislature to report on the Lebowakgomo government's budget vote. They were allegedly thrown out after refusing to leave their cameras at the door.

Two weeks earlier, Premier Sello Moloto's political adviser Jack Mokobi reportedly stormed into the SABC offices in Polokwane to complain about the "harsh" manner in which politicians were interviewed and to demand that Thobela FM's Willie Mosoma be removed from his post as current affairs presenter. Mokobi allegedly accused Mosoma of being biased against politicians from the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

Representatives from the SABC's Limpopo regional office have since met with the premier of Limpopo, and the meeting was seen as a positive step in improving relations. Speaking to MISA-South Africa, the SABC said it promised to monitor relations and gave assurances that its reporters would cover a wide range of stories in the province in accordance with accepted journalistic principles and the SABC editorial code. The Limpopo provincial government could not be reached for comment.

MISA-South Africa condemns this conduct by officials as an outrageous breach of South Africa's Constitution. The organisation calls on the national government to strengthen and clarify legislation to ensure that state officials at all levels of government are held accountable for their constitutional responsibilities.