SABC #BlackFriday protest in photos: Hlaudi must go!

Journalists have been censored by the banning of showing violent protest and the threat of suspension and dismissal hanging over their heads.

The letter was in solidarity with journalists who staged a protest on Friday in Johannesburg following reports that three additional journalists from the broadcaster are reportedly facing disciplinary action for speaking their minds regarding the erosion of editorial independence at SABC.

This follows the suspension of economics editor Thandeka Gqubule, RSG executive producer Foeta Krige and senior journalist Suna Venter last week.

In her speech, she called on the “ancestors” of journalism such as Ruth First, Peter Magubane and Can Themba to be with them in spirit as they marched to the Constitutional Court to defend freedom of expression. His resignation letter was published on his personal Twitter account.

SABC CEO Jimi Matthews resigned June 27, saying “for many months I have compromised the values that I hold dear under the mistaken belief that I could be more effective inside the SABC than outside”.

The decision taken in May by the national broadcaster has also been criticized by media rights group, politicians and the public who have described it as self-censorship. Even though Kamwendo was allowed to ask questions freely, one listener pointed out that she should be careful because her probing questions could result in her being out of work.

But Moetsoeneng told a press conference this weeks that there was no censorship at the SABC.

We join with numerous calls for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of misconduct charges against all the affected SABC journalists.

Three senior journalists, who have raised concerns about a climate of fear in their newsrooms, have been charged internally, while three others have been suspended for going against a decision not to cover a protest.

“We’ve just received word that they have been locked inside”.