South African opposition party the Democratic Alliance (DA) has said it will request an investigation into reports the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is tapping its journalists phones.
HumanIPO reported today on allegations SABC editorial staff are being subjected to phone tapping in order to maintain the integrity of the organisation as a National Key Point.
According to staff, SABC chairperson Ellen Zandile Tshabalala made it clear to the editorial team that leaks would not be tolerated, and were being fought through the tapping of phones.
Marian Shinn, DA shadow minister of communications, has condemned the accusations.
“These allegations must be investigated. The South African public cannot be kept in the dark about the levels of corruption and maladministration within President Zuma’s ANC [African National Congress],” she said.
The DA said the broadcaster had stooped to an all-time low by attempting to intimidate journalists.
“The tapping of phones is in violation of section 14 of our Constitution that states, ‘Everyone has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have the privacy of their communications infringed’,” said Shinn.
“This is a further indication that Ms Tshabalala misunderstands her role as non-executive chairperson of the public broadcaster.”
Last month, the DA called for Tshabalala to resign over a speech she made urging people to vote for the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
“The DA has also witnessed the bias of the SABC first-hand,” Shinn said, referring to the decision of the state broadcaster to remove an anti-Zuma commercial.
“State security intelligence personnel are also reportedly stationed at Luthuli House to ‘vet’ ANC candidates, and are also being utilised to stop booers at ANC events. It appears that the ANC is co-opting state intelligence agencies to influence media coverage and the outcome of the election,” Shinn said.
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