The Young Communist League (YCL) on Thursday said SABC’s acting CEO Gab Mampone should take responsibility for the news division to counter any biased reporting during the election.
Spokesperson Castro Ngobese was responding to the unveiling of the SABC’s 2008 election coverage plans.
”We urge Mampone as the commander-in-chief of SABC news to be directly involved and take full responsibility with a view of eliminating any political bias and manipulation of news coverage by Snuki Zikalala.
”This will go a long way in ensuring that the coverage of the elections is impartial, fair and balanced,” he said.
Ngobese said the YCL had on numerous occasions expressed its deep concerns about possible abuse of SABC news to promote Cope, the new party formed by ANC dissidents, including Zikalala.
The SABC would appoint an external media monitoring company to ensure fair and equitable election coverage, the broadcaster said earlier.
Zikalala, group executive for news and current affairs, said the SABC was committed to providing extensive coverage, which would be fair, accurate, balanced and relevant.
Special slots and platforms will be introduced, including a series of debates between the leading political parties, starting on January 11.
Zikalala said: ”Each episode will feature a number of party leaders and a panel of analysts in a live debate in front of an audience.
”During the programme parties will be given an opportunity to state their positions on the topic under discussion, followed by a debate,” he said.
The SABC has appointed Zolile Majova as a complaints officer to handle all issues political parties may want to raise during the election period.
Zikalala said that during the week of election the SABC would ensure extensive coverage on all platforms, anchored from national and provincial election centres, of pre-election days, to party wraps, election day, and the final announcement of the election results.
”A key feature of the election coverage will be the election results system.
”This will enable the delivery of immediate, comprehensive, contextualised election results. Expert election panels will continuously analyse the unfolding election as well as the results,” he said.
Acting CEO Mampone said the SABC would provide comprehensive coverage of the 2009 national elections that would tell the story to the nation and assist voters in making their choices.
”We will bring the full story of the elections from every part of South Africa, be that Parliament or the rural areas,” he said. – Sapa