MWASA joins Save our SABC campaign

The Media Workers Association of South Africa (MWASA) has joined the Save Our SABC (SOS) campaign, co-ordinated by Kate Skinnner.

In a letter to Skinner, MWASA general secretary, Tuwani Gumani, said:

“Please be notified that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Media Workers Association of South Africa (MWASA) sitting in Johannesburg on 4-6 February 2011 unanimously resolved to confirm formal membership of the Save Our SABC (SOS) Campaign.

“MWASA hopes this decision will see us contribute to the sterling work the SOS Campaign continues to do since its inception in 2008. To MWASA our participation in the SOS Campaign is a logical and necessary follow-through on the work of both the Campaign for Open Media and the Campaign for Independent Broadcasting of earlier in the 1990’s.

“In our view the transformation of the SABC from a State-controlled entity of then, to a fully-fledged, independent, public broadcaster is not complete. The tardiness in the review of Broadcasting, Regulatory and funding frameworks regarding the SABC in particular and the industry in general continues to arrest cogent and co-ordinated, integrated development in the right direction of ‘total citizen empowerment’.

“We also believe in enhanced and empowered citizen participation in decisions affecting the daily existences of the all South Africans and would endeavour to add our voice in the discourses and dialogues within and outside the formal structures of the SOS Campaign.

“We welcome this opportunity and thank you.”

Skinner welcomed the move saying that as a ” key stakeholder at the SABC, I think we should welcome this decision”.