In a statement issued today, Floyd Shivambu, spokesperson for the ANC Youth League, as called on the SABC to cover the burgeoning unrest in Egypt, accusing ‘Western’ broadcasters of “biased and politically motivated” reporting.
“The African National Congress Youth League calls on the SABC to provide a fair, balanced and effective coverage of the political situation in Egypt.
“As one of the biggest broadcasters in the African continent, the SABC carries a responsibility to tell African stories and political developments in a fair and balanced manner. The SABC’s failure to do so opens space for biased and politically motivated broadcasters to infuse their perspectives and political agendas of their countries in the coverage of political developments in Egypt and other countries in the African continent.
“The reality is that thus far, South Africa and many countries in Africa have not received a fair and balanced perspective of the political situation in Egypt, because the News Agencies, particularly the Broadcasters from the West are portraying what is suitable for their countries’ political agendas and misleading many people of the real political situation on the ground.
“Some of these broadcasters are already touting individuals allied to them as alternatives to the Egyptian political stalemate, ignoring the deeper internal dynamics in Egypt and the real leaders of the revolution/protests in that country.
“The SABC should appreciate that South Africa carries a responsibility at all times to provide leadership to the African continent and should never be oblivious to political currents that sweep throughout the continent. This therefore places a responsibility on the SABC to at all times provide fair, balanced and progressive coverage of political developments in Africa and source balanced, fair and progressive commentaries on what is obtaining.
“This should most certainly apply to Egypt, and other countries such as Sudan, Tunisia and all countries that have experienced massive political developments in the recent past.
“The SABC should therefore send a dedicated team of reporters to Egypt and Sudan to provide coverage of the political developments in those countries to ensure that the people of South Africa are not misled by Western Broadcasters and News Agencies.”
