Sanef seeking 'super urgent' meeting with eNCA
The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) says it regards allegations of editorial interference and censorship at national news TV station, eNCA, as a matter that needs "super urgent" attention.
Sanef Executive Director, Kate Skinner, has reacted to the war of words that exploded on social media following the resignation of eNCA political journalist, Samkele Maseko.
It started with Maseko announcing on Twitter that he had resigned and was escorted out of the eNCA building.
Today my Journey with @eNCA came to an end. Thank you for all those who have contributed to a Journey that started off as a BootCamper in 2014 ,later to return in 2017 as a reporter under @NgiphiweMhlangu. It’s a been good, learned a lot. Thank you Jeremy Maggs for everything.
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) December 17, 2019
To my former Colleagues @eNCA I apologize for not staying goodbye. Such is the nature of such things , just continue kicking ass. We shall meet again somewhere soon.... pic.twitter.com/vme8hrQTeP
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) December 17, 2019
The storm then erupted when Pillay reacted on Twitter:
Maseko then posted a series of tweets on Wednesday afternoon in which he made serious allegations of editorial interference in the eNCA newsroom and specifically against Pillay.
His tweets were a direct reaction to that of Pillay, who has since closed his Twitter account.
The disrespect you have for an African Black Child is appalling, you have no sense of appreciation none whatsoever. We are not here to play politics and settle political scores with the EFF like you are doing. Busy sensoring political talk and instructing things to taken of air https://t.co/qnKkpnGoX4
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) December 18, 2019
Do you want me to speak about how you instructed that @MYANC MP Bongani Bhongo be sensored by removing all the allegations he made at Minister Pravin Gordhan? What happened to a simple journalism principle of two sides to a story? Getting both parties to answer for themselves https://t.co/qnKkpnGoX4
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) December 18, 2019
Do want me to speak about how you threw me out of the @eNCA building like a dog who had stolen something....... How you came to my desk and said I should pack my shit and follow you to HR. You are heartless and unethical. Denying some a chance to serve a notice period https://t.co/qnKkpnGoX4
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) December 18, 2019
That purple cow clown thinks his king.
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) December 18, 2019
Listen here and listen good, you may be pulling strings there at @eNCA but you will refer to your family as Rats and not Black African Children. Settle your political scores using eNCA but disrespect us for dumping ship led by a failed politician. https://t.co/qnKkpnGoX4
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) December 18, 2019
Want to speak about how you canned an SAA story saying a journalist is an imbongi of the workers, wanting Journalists to find faults with workers at all costs whilst protecting bosses. https://t.co/qnKkpnGoX4
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) December 18, 2019
Skinner says they are very concerned over these allegations and have asked to meet with management of eNCA as soon as possible.
“We want to talk about the issue of Samkele’s allegations that Kanthan Pillay had censored the newsroom.”
Sanef says it is also seeking clarity around Pillay role at the station amid reports that he is currently the station’s news boss.
Pillay is also the founder and leader of the Capitalist Party of South Africa (ZACP), known as the Purple Cow party, during the 2019 general elections.
Skinner says they want to discuss the decision by eNCA to appoint Pillay despite his political affiliations.
Skinner says they welcome the fact that Maseko has agreed to approach Judge Kathleen Satchwell and the Media Ethics and Credibility Inquiry to discuss these issues further.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says in a statement the party has been reliably informed that eNCA placed Khayelihle Khumalo on suspension for tweeting about the EFF elective conference from his personal account.
eNCA withdrew its coverage of the EFF conference over the past weekend, after the party had banned journalists from Rapport, Daily Maverick and amaBungani.
However, the EFF says the party regard the decision by eNCA to pull their team as a pre-meditated one.
“In fact, when it comes to the EFF, the institution has become personal. It is a fact that the eNCA was always looking for a way to avoid covering the EFF Second NPA. This is because from day one, when all other broadcasters built set onsite, eNCA never built a set or brought any technical equipment signifying their full commitment to cover the EFF Second NPA. Their withdrawal must be seen for what it truly represents: an attempt to silence the EFF,” reads the statement.
Skinner says they are willing to meet with EFF as well as the leaders of any other political parties.