The presentation outlines MMA's three key findings to theParliamentary Inquiry into the SABC Presented in December 2016

1. Presentation
SABC Crises: why they really matterSABC Crises: why they really matterSABC Crises: why they really matterSABC Crises: why they really matter
Presentation
to Parliament’s Ad hoc Committee into
the SABC Board

2. About Media Monitoring Africa
• MMA is a registered non benefit trust operating since 1993;
• MMA’s vision is a just and fair society empowered by a
free, responsible and quality media;
• Through a human rights-based approach, MMA aims to
promote the development of:
o Media that is transparent, diverse, ethical and accountableo Media that is transparent, diverse, ethical and accountable
to its audiences;
o Critical and constructive communications by the
powerful, and;
o Informed, engaged and connected citizenry.
• Funded by range of local & international donors – audits – high
levels of accountability.

3. About MMA
• MMA has monitored media coverage of all democratic
elections, including being commissioned by SABC to cover
2014 elections;
• MMA has presented to Parliament on a range of
issues, including:
• Transformation in Advertising• Transformation in Advertising
• POSIB Bill
• Broadcasting Amendment Bill
• Film & Publications Amendment Bill.
• Been here before in 2008 – warnings not heard!!

4. Overview of Presentation
Four parts:
• Crisis at the SABC: How did we get here?
• Research conducted by MMA:
• Failing the people: SABC coverage of the South African
local government electionslocal government elections
• Verwoerd's Ghost: Monitoring of the SABC protest ban
coverage
• Selling the Family Jewels: Perspectives on the SABC &
Multichoice deal
• Conclusions & Requests.

5. Crisis? What crisis?
3 BOARDS IN 10 YEARS
(EXCLUDING INTERIM
BOARD)
12 SABC CEO’S SINCE
2008

6. Crisis what Crisis?
Hlaudi Cloud
2016

7. SABC Local Election Coverage
• Monitoring period: 1 June – 10 August 2016;
• 73 media monitored:
• including print, broadcast and online
• including SABC and it’s competitors;
• Attention is on how SABC performed during the• Attention is on how SABC performed during the
period;
• Critical that SABC adheres to highest standards, in
diversity, equitable and fair coverage.

8. Key Findings: Political Party Coverage
• How did SABC cover political parties?
• Have a greater mandate to cover more and greater
diversity;
• Some positive exceptions in elections dedicated
programming - where greater diversity covered;
Generally however - in line with other media, or not as• Generally however - in line with other media, or not as
diverse -i.e failed to meet their public service mandate.

9. Key Findings: Political Party Coverage
By focusing on bigger political parties, the SABC covered the local
elections as if they were national elections

10. Key Findings: Political Party Coverage

11. Key Findings: Whose voices?
• NB: gender - whose voices do we hear?
• SABC has great responsibility to ensure more equitable
coverage and more women's voices heard;
• We already know SABC failed in respect of issues
• e.g. GBV didn't feature
• In voice we see - on par or worse than other media;• In voice we see - on par or worse than other media;
• Failed to meet their public service mandate.

12. Key Findings: Whose voices?
80% 80%
90% 86%
76%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Percentageofsources
Male
Female
20% 20%
10% 14%
24%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Motsweding fm SABC 1
Isizulu/Isixhosa
News
Ukhozi fm Umhlobo
Wenene fm
Global average
Percentageofsources

13. Key Findings: Was coverage fair?
• Fairness in coverage is key determinant of elections
coverage and role of media in elections period
• Fundamental importance that SABC performs well -
fair coverage - or may impact overall nature of
elections
• Bias is not one item but a pattern over time;• Bias is not one item but a pattern over time;
• For the first time we have found systemic bias in three
programmers
• National tragedy
• Failed to meet their public service mandate &
threatened our democracy.

14. Key Findings: Was coverage fair?

15. Key Findings: Was coverage fair?
• SABC 2 Xitsonga/Tshivenda News - 34% biased items
• for every three stories put forward in their 17h30 news bulletin, at
least one of them, on average, was identified as biased

16. Key Findings: Was coverage fair?
• SABC 2 Morning Live - 22% biased items

17. Key Findings: Was coverage fair?
• For the first time in our democratic history the
SABC has at least on three programmes clearly
failed in its basic duty of balanced and fair
reporting;
• The programmes in question have also served to• The programmes in question have also served to
undermine the mandate of the SABC and its
credibility.

18. Verwoerd's Ghost:Protest Ban
• 26 May 2016: Mr Motsoeneng announces ban of
coverage of violent protests - came hot on heels of
violence in Vuwani;
• Decision published via press release, disseminated to
staff via instruction from top;staff via instruction from top;
• SABC journalists fired for doing their job;
• Supported by Minister - despite being clear violation of
freedom of speech;
• MMA, SOS, FXI took case to ICASA, CCC - we won;
• SABC Ordered to reverse decision & send Board
resolution. We decided to see if complied.

19. Protest Ban Policy: Research
• We set out to see if SABC had indeed complied with
the order by ICASA
• Given the attitude of arrogance with which ruling was
met - and that no communication issued to staff
seemed likely not adhered;seemed likely not adhered;
• We found in run up to elections protest ban was in
place - chilling effect on news.

20. Protest Ban Research
• Monitoring period over 3 separate weeks:
• 23 – 30 July 2016
• 8 – 13 August 2016
• 1 – 6 September 2016
• 95 news bulletins with a combined total of 950 news stories
were monitoredwere monitored
• 6 SABC television news channels monitored:
•SABC 1 IsiZulu/IsiXhosa
•SABC 1 SiSwati/Ndebele
•SABC 2 Xitsonga/Tshivenda
•SABC 2 Sesotho/Setswana
•SABC 2 Afrikaans
•SABC 3 English

21. Key Findings: Violent Footage?

22. Protest Ban Conclusion
• Protests were covered on SABC TV
• BUT violent protests < non violent protests both in terms of
prominence and number of stories (despite several violent protests
taking place)
• Footage was used in reporting of violent protests
• BUT in all but one item, NO images of actual violence were shown• BUT in all but one item, NO images of actual violence were shown
• AND footage of aftermath was shown
• These findings are in line with the SABC protest ban and demonstrate
that the SABC is in violation of the ICASA order.
• SABC did not adhere to the Order, and deceived SABC staff, the
regulator (ICASA), parliament and the people of South Africa.

23. Dodgy deal: SABC & Multichoice
• MMA & SOS are currently involved in Competition case
• We opposed it as it changed fundamental policy & sold
off archives - and all too cheaply!
• Already clear from evidence that deal was not in best
interest of the SABC, (e.g. opposition from Board);interest of the SABC, (e.g. opposition from Board);
• SABC not willing to hand over relevant documents to the
court e.g. lost or don't have documents
• Meanwhile Multichoice maintains that it is an ordinary
deal.

24. Dodgy deal: SABC & Multichoice deal
• But if it was an "ordinary" deal:
• Why was there a clause about concerns about
regulator? (Clause 20.2)
• Why include a clause stating that the SABC CEO and
the Multichoice CEO will meet annually to discussthe Multichoice CEO will meet annually to discuss
‘matters’? (Clause 19)
• Surely Multichoice would be happy to share the details
if it was an “ordinary” deal?

25. Conclusion & Requests
• Research shows how SABC has failed to meet its public
service mandate especially in one of the most crucial
periods ie. run up to democratic local elections
• Systemic bias on SABC programmes is a clear threat to
our democracy
• Failure and/or refusal to obey ICASA order to reverse
public protest ban shows SABC board & senior
management not accountable to public
• Vested interests, including big bonuses - saw dodgy deal
signed.

26. Conclusion & Requests
• The evidence our research all clearly point an institution not
only in crisis - but one that has gone rogue
• Those responsible must be fired & held accountable
• Need a full investigation into the deal with Multichoice• Need a full investigation into the deal with Multichoice
• Parliament needs to act too - beyond the hearing to change the
law - we drafted changes in 2008! - or we will merely start a
new cycle of crisis.
• Need to ensure SABC independence protected – Chapter 9
Institution

27. “For this reason, public office-bearers ignore their constitutional
obligations at their peril. This is so because
constitutionalism, accountability and the rule of law constitute
the sharp and mighty sword that stands ready to chop the ugly
head of impunity off its stiffened neck. It is against this backdrop
that the following remarks must be understood:
‘If these values are not observed and their precepts not carried
out conscientiously, we have a recipe for a constitutional crisisout conscientiously, we have a recipe for a constitutional crisis
of great magnitude. In a State predicated on a desire to
maintain the rule of law, it is imperative that one and all should
be driven by a moral obligation to ensure the continued survival
of our democracy.’”
Introduction, Cases CCT 143/15 and CCT 171/15 Mogoeng CJ

28. Thank You
William Bird (MMA, Director)
williamb@mma.org.za
Thandi Smith (MMA, Head of Policy)
thandis@mma.org.za

29. Key Findings: What were stories about?
• What was election coverage about?
• This helps us understand diversity but also to see if
core issues covered;
• Again some exceptions with dedicated elections
programming where greater diversity of topics but;programming where greater diversity of topics but;
• In general followed same trends - follow the leader -
events not issues;
• Failed to meet their public service mandate.

30. Key Findings: What were stories about?

31. Key Findings: What were stories about?

32. Key Findings: Topics