Presidency says ‘nothing sinister’ about SSA's vetting of SABC news head
The Presidency has disputed claims that the State Security Agency has been targeting SABC head of news, Moshoeshoe Monare, ahead of the elections.
This comes after a report by City Press alleging that the SSA has sought to subject Monare to another round of vetting - two years after he assumed office.
On Monday, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Monare is not the only executive at the state broadcaster undergoing vetting.
“The SABC made the request to the SSA to conduct a vetting process on Mr Monare, as per the established practise with all SABC executives. Mr Monare’s predecessor went through a similar vetting process without any hitches. It is therefore not true that Mr Monare is being targeted ahead of the elections.
“Upon his appointment, Mr Monare consented to the vetting process, completed the form that was furnished to him, and went further to submit some but not all of the required information.
“The process was then stalled when Mr Monare did not want to submit himself to a polygraph test, which is part of the vetting process. Consequently, the vetting of Mr Monare was never completed.”
Magwenya insisted that Ramaphosa would never allow journalists or the media to be intimidated.
“President Ramaphosa or any part of his administration will never sanction acts of intimidation or harassment of journalists because such behaviour in our country will stand contrary to the sacrosanct adherence to the Bill of Rights enshrined in our Constitution.”
ALSO READ:
