Sanef and the Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) are taking action to ensure that the SABC's disciplinary action against Phathiswa Magopeni, the public broadcaster's head of news, takes place openly and transparently. They have argued to the chair of the hearing that the media should be allowed to attend the proceedings, which begin on December 17. Magopeni has been charged with negligence and bringing the SABC into disrepute after an investigative program aired in contravention of a court order. She alleges she is being targeted for resisting attempts to force her to carry an unscheduled interview with the president during the recent elections.

1. SANEFand CFE fightSABC’sbidtoholdMagopeni'sdisciplinaryactionbehindcloseddoors
CAMPAIGN FORFREE EXPRESSION
07 December2021
SouthAfricanNational Editors’Forum(Sanef)The SouthAfricanNational Editors’Forum(Sanef) andthe
CampaignforFree Expression(CFE) are takingactiontoensure thatthe SABC’sdisciplinaryaction
againstPhathiswaMagopeni,the publicbroadcaster’sheadof news,takesplace openlyand
transparently.
SbuNgalwa,the chairpersonof Sanef,said:"Anopenandtransparentprocesswill notonlyassistthe
publictomake up itsmindon the case, butit will alsoaidthe SABCto dispel the perceptionthatthe
processispart of a political witch-hunt.
"Sanef reiteratesitsrespectforthe SABC'sinternal processesand beingable toholdstaff accountable -
hence we are not callingforthe disciplinaryactiontobe abandonedbutratherforit to be opento the
publicasthe issuesathandare a matter of great publicinterest,"saidNgalwa.
The CFE's executive directorAntonHarber,CFEsaid:“Too much isat stake forthisto happenbehind
closeddoors.Ms Magopeni hassaid that she isbeinghoundedoutbecause she hasresistedpolitical
interference.We needthe publictosee if thisisa returnto the days whenfactional politicsdominated
the SABC andburieditspublicservice mandate".
LawyersforSanef and CFE have writtentothe chair of the hearing,Advocate NazeerCassim, toaskthat
the mediabe allowedtoattendthe proceedings.Cassimhasaskedthe Sanef and CFElegal teamto
argue the case for opennesswhenthe hearingbeginsonDecember17.The SABChas alreadyrefuseda
Sanef requesttoopenthe hearings,sotheyare expectedtooppose it.
“The SABCisno ordinaryemployer,”Sanef andCFEargued.“The publicbroadcasterplaysaunique role
inSouth Africa’sdeliberativedemocracy,whichitcaneitherfosterorundermine…Ms Magopeni’s
grievance …squarelyimpugnsthe SABC’simpartialityandindependence.
“Whethershe indeedactednegligentlyinbreaching acourtorder isa matterof publicinterest,”the two
organisationssaid.

2. Magopeni hasbeenchargedwithnegligence andbringingthe SABCintodisrepute afterthe broadcaster
ran an episode of itsinvestigative programmeSpecialAssignmentincontraventionof acourt order.In a
formal grievance,Magopeni arguedthatshe isbeingheldtoaccountfor a decisionthatwasnot hers,as
it wasmade four levelsbelow her.
She allegesshe isbeingtargetedbecause she resistedattemptsbythe SABCchairand Group CEO to
force her to carry an unscheduledinterview withPresidentCyril Ramaphosaduringthe recentlocal
governmentelectioncampaign.
The action againstMagopeni came justdays afterFikile Mbalula,the ANC’sheadof elections,blamed
the SABC forhisparty’s electionperformanceandpointedafingeratMagopeni personally.
The SABC has beenonthe rightcourse to restore itspublicservice valuesandtoreverse the damage
causedby yearsof political interference andmanipulation.Asasocietywe mustbe vigilanttoprevent
thisfromhappeningagain.
*CFE is a non-profitbodydedicatedtodefendingandexpandingthe righttofree expressionforall in
southernAfrica.
*SANEFis a non-profitorganisationwhosemembersare editors,seniorjournalistsandjournalism
trainersfromall areas of the South Africanmedia.SANEFiscommittedtochampioningSouthAfrica's
hard-wonfreedomof expressionandpromotingquality,ethicsanddiversityinthe SouthAfricanmedia.