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On Tuesday ANC chief whip and head of its communications subcommittee, Jackson Mthembu, was visibly irritated with journalists, who repeatedly asked why his statement on the SABC should be regarded as the final party word on the public broadcaster.
Mthembu had spoken out, commendably, on the worrying developments at the SABC, saying the party disagreed with the censoring of visuals.
It was also opposed to anything that infringed on people’s right to hear and see what they wanted.
And he took the side of senior staff who had come under pressure from chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, saying the ANC was opposed to infringements of journalists’ rights to practise their craft.
It was with a huge sigh of relief that we listened to him make sense, after weeks of madness in which Motsoeneng had run amok.
Indeed, the media was right to seek clarification from Mthembu. Events since Tuesday have proved there are way too many ANCs, and they are proclaiming vastly different messages.
The ANC Youth League, the veterans association – Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association – and at least one provincial chairperson, North West’s Supra Mahumapelo, have contradicted his message.
The president of the ANC and the country, Jacob Zuma, has stayed silent, leading to more confusion about where the party really stands.
The truth is the party’s factions have gravitated towards their partisan positions and do not give a hoot about what everyone else thinks.
While we applaud Mthembu’s stance, we remain uncertain that the SABC leadership has seen the error of its ways.
Seven journalists still face disciplinary charges, viewers are still barred from seeing certain scenes of protest and Motsoeneng continues to exercise his madness.
Until decisive action is taken and the SABC is removed from the clutches of the few, the SABC will continue along the road to becoming a “captured” state broadcaster.
