A group of journalists gathered outside SABC offices in Cape Town.
JOHANNESBURG - The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has urged all journalists to wear black and support the BlackFriday protest against the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), which has sparked controversy with its moves to censor some news content.
Sanef is among the concerned organisations and ordinary citizens who are demanding the immediate reinstatement of all the suspended journalists and the scrapping of the public broadcaster’s “illegally revised” editorial policies.
"Democracy is at stake" says @Eusebius BlackFriday NoToCensorship SABC pic.twitter.com/YW8HLh1unj
— htxt (@htxtafrica) July 1, 2016
Several journalists have been suspended for raising their objections to new editorial policies that have been described as censorship.
Acting CEO Jimi Mathews resigned in protest over developments at the SABC, which he said were wrong.
The Save Our SABC Coalition will also picket outside the SABC studios in Sea Point and Auckland Park in Johannesburg.
Outa, the organisation that opposes e-tolls and now tackles tax anomalies, said on Friday it was joining the picket in Johannesburg.
SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng went on record as saying detractors should leave the SABC alone and that he would not bow to pressure to allow journalists to report on violent protests or stories that would reflect negatively on President Jacob Zuma.
The Right2Know campaign’s media freedom organiser, Micah Reddy, said Motsoeneng’s interference in the editorial policy was one of the issues that had plunged the SABC into a downward spiral.
“Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the cabal there has shown absolute contempt not only for the public, but for those who work under them as well."
NotInOurName SABCProtest SABC pic.twitter.com/usJzQADwDZ
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) July 1, 2016
BlackFriday SABC NoToCensorship pic.twitter.com/umzjyggzE9
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 1, 2016
@telbelsa @AlideDasnois among those who gathered in front of SABC to protest censorship NotInOurName pic.twitter.com/VmSyqrZwdr
— Pippa Green (@green_pippa) July 1, 2016
We are here! @lulushezi BlackFriday SABC outside entrance 2 Radio Park @News24 @SAEditorsForum @SAMediaMonitor pic.twitter.com/elFiyvR2pf
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 1, 2016
SABCcensorship protest down in Sea Point, Cape Town. pic.twitter.com/SUN5Q2jB2A
— Stephen Horn (@SteveSince91) July 1, 2016
In front of the SABC in solidarity with our colleagues inside & in protest of SABCcensorship. @AfriNewsAgency pic.twitter.com/1xbywBSTY3
— Carla Bernardo (@CarlaKatjie) July 1, 2016
BlackFriday SayNoToCensorship Censorship HlaudiMustFall pic.twitter.com/aAcOKgYcaZ
— I am an African (@Clint_ZA) July 1, 2016
"Never mess with people who buy ink by the ton." PressFreedom JournalistRights SABCcensorship pic.twitter.com/s2bCGNzmgM
— Kyle Cowan (@kcowan23) July 1, 2016
SABC The group will lead a silent march to Constitutional Hill - demanding free media. pic.twitter.com/ZeeAVxEeiD
— POWER987 News (@POWER987News) July 1, 2016
SABC protestors say they support the suspended journalists & their suspensions must be lifted. BlackFriday pic.twitter.com/waW0aWt3mW
— silindelo masikane (@Slindelo_M) July 1, 2016
Group gathered outside SABC offices in Seapoint, protesting censorship at the state broadcaster eNCA BlackFriday pic.twitter.com/JNXzCj3M72
— Pheladi Sethusa (@pheladi_s) July 1, 2016
Chanting "Hlaudi must fall" as cars drive past and hoot in support eNCA BlackFriday pic.twitter.com/nZxkhpCBWr
— Pheladi Sethusa (@pheladi_s) July 1, 2016
News Editors calling for SABC COO Hlaudi Motswaneng to step down SABCPicket SABCcensorship NotInOurName pic.twitter.com/i3voODPVAK
— Lindiwe Sithole (@THATlindz) July 1, 2016
Vavi calling for Hlaudi to go. Says ANC is supporting censorship and demands suspended journos be reinstated @eNCA pic.twitter.com/L6uJZ70V3i
— Lindiwe Sithole (@THATlindz) July 1, 2016
