2 April 1998

CIVIC ORGANISATION TO PICKET NEWSPAPER OVER ALLEGED MALICIOUS REPORTS

The South African National Civils Organisation (Sanco) announced on March 31 that it would picket the offices of the "Sunday Independent" newspaper on April 8 because of what they claimed to be "malicious reports" about a split in the organisation and an alleged R1.3 million debt incurred by Sanco.

The reports, all written by journalist Williman Mervin Gumede, appeared in the newspaper over several weeks. In the one report it was stated: "... the troubled Sanco was R1.3 million in the red and had been given one month to repay its debts or face liquidation by the auditor-general and criminal charges from the attorney-general." Another report alleged that the Soweto branch of Sanco had split from the national body to form a separate rival organisation to be led by Mr Maynard Menu, who had resigned. According to the report, Menu said other branches were expected to split from Sanco.

Sanco national president Mlungisi Hlongwane said the aim of the picket would be to express the organisation’s "dissatisfaction, disgust, concern and contempt" at the newspapers’ "malicious, unfair and incorrect reporting". He accused the newspaper of waging a vendetta against Sanco to discredit it in order to promote a hidden agenda. He said several attempts by the organisation asking the newspaper to refrain from being biased had been ignored. Hlogwane said they had written several letters to Gumede and "Sunday Independent" editor John Battesby denying that the organisation was in a financial crisis or that there was split. Sanco said instead that Menu, who was reported to be behind the split in the organisation, was in fact bitter and wanted to form a rival movement.

Battersby confirmed to the "Sowetan" newspaper that he had received a letter from Sanco concerning Gumede’s report. Gumede also told the "Sowetan" that as a journalist he had reported the truth. Gumede further told the FXI that he had come under pressure from SANCO to reveal the sources of certain documents he had quoted in some of his reports.

ENDS