BROADCASTING - The South African Broadcasting Corporation announced that it will investigate the failure to renew Special Assignment Presenter Max du Preez's contract and the ousting of five DJ's. On May 12, the corporation outlined its terms of reference for a commission of inquiry. SABC spokesperson, Thaninga Shope said that the corporation's board chairperson Paulos Zulu and committee members Mbulelo Mzamane, Maepeke Sekhukhuni, Gabriel Setloane and Paul Davies would investigate policies and management practices regarding freedom of expression and the free flow of ideas. She said whilst looking at the journalistic integrity and editorial independence, they will try to establish whether there were any external or internal influences comprising the integrity and impartiality of the corporation.

Meanwhile, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa panel sat on May 13 to hear a complaint about the SABC broadcast on du Preez's dismissal, by the FXI, Friends of the Public Broadcaster and the Committee to Reinstate Max du Preez. They contended that the news bulletin was not true, unbalanced and biased in favour of the SABC. It omitted information and was misleading, contravening several parts of the BCCSA Code. The SABC denied the allegation and said the report was correct. Phil Molefe, SABC television news editor in chief told the panel that the SABC did not want a trial by the media. In its news bulletin it had provided a statement by the SABC Group Executive, a comment of the head of television news and contextualisation drawn from a newspaper report. "That's how we treated it and that's how we thought it should be," Molefe told the panel. SABC lawyer Mark Rosin told the panel that the entire complaint should be dismissed as there was no evidence. BCCSA chairperson Professor Kobus van Rooyen said a decision on the complaint would soon be made.

ELECTIONS - "Star" reported on May 20 that the ANC had lodged a formal complaint with the Independent Broadcasting Authority over the amount of air-time allocated to the party for election broadcasts. In a statement, the ANC said there were glaring inconsistencies in the way the IBA had allocated broadcast times. "Parties with as few as two representatives in the National Assembly have been allocated in excess of 50% of the time allocated to the ANC, with 255 representatives in the National Assembly". The ANC said there was similar inconsistency in the allocation of airtime for regional and provincial broadcasters and that the IBA's lack of diligence would prejudice some parties at the expense of others. The United Democratic Movement earlier submitted a memorandum to the SABC complaining about the broadcaster's election coverage. It demanded the resignation of the SABC editor-in-chief Phil Molefe and called him an ANC propaganda machine. Supporters marched to the SABC's headquarters in Auckland Park where they submitted their demands. The SABC said it would respond.

ELECTIONS - "The Citizen" on May 14 reported that the Federal Alliance made an urged request to the IBA to rule over complaints that the ANC consultant Clive Simpkins allegedly made remarks that the FA was a racist party and right wing. The remarks were made during the prime time Face The Nation - Election 99 programme on SABC 3 on May 9. According to FA spokesperson Jan Bosman, the remarks about Louis Luyt and the FA were not only abusive, but also biased in favour of the ANC. He said the SABC had replied to the FA concerns and admitted that Simpkins' references might be damaging to the FA. The corporation offered to record an interview with Luyt as a response to the remarks but the FA rejected the offer arguing that the SABC could not be trusted with pre-recorded interviews since they were the final editing and broadcasting authority. Bosman said they expect the IBA to deal with the complaint, not the SABC. An unconditional apology to the FA by the SABC and the presenter Tim Modise was requested.

ELECTIONS - The "Mail & Guardian" reported on May 21 that it would support the ANC in the coming elections. According to the newspaper, the ANC has made a contribution second to none in creating and safeguarding the political peace in South Africa. Earlier, the "Financial Mail" had endorsed the UDM and the "City Press" had said it would support the ANC. The decision to back political parties in the June 2 elections drew a mixed response from media and political parties around the country. Cyril Ramaphosa, chairperson of the Times Media Limited, a part-owner of the magazine, alleged that in endorsing the UDM, the editor of the "Financial Mail", Peter Bruce, has commandeered the magazine to push his own personal political views, which are by no means consistent with those of most of his staff or the magazine owners. He said the call for a vote for a specific political party seriously compromises the editorial independence and credibility of the "Financial Mail". Meanwhile, UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said contributions to the UDM's election coffers from business have increased since the magazine endorsed its party. Azapo president Mosibudi Mangena lambasted "City Press" for declaring its support for the ANC. "If "City Press" has decided to convert itself into a praise singer, they can do so without us. The price of freedom was eternal vigilance. "Those of us who would like to see democracy take root in our beloved country have no reason to buy that paper any more. We black people are Azapo, PAC, ANC, and IFP. We want information to make informed choices. We don't want to be channelled into one mental and political kraal by a sycophantic media," Mangena said.

PRESS FREEDOM - On May 21, "Star" reported that Zimbabwe's parliament has given its seal of approval to a proposed media council that will register and sanction journalists who breach a code of conduct to be drawn for the profession. The code of conduct will be drawn up by the media council itself. According to "Star", Information Minister Chen Chimutengwende said the new measures were aimed specifically at guiding journalists in private media whom he accused of getting carried away in their criticism of the state. Chimutengwende said the ministry had hoped that journalists in the private media would observe the ethics of the profession, but this had not been the case. Most of the MPs who took part in the debate supported the minister. The Zimbabwean government recently cracked down on journalists from independent media, both in Johannesburg and Harare, accusing them of trying to bring down the country through a hidden agenda. It later introduced regulations restricting foreign investment in the media. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists vowed to challenge any legislation restricting media in court, saying it would stifle the constitutional right of freedom of expression.

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