DA: James Selfe says DA files supplementary affidavit that should have Jimmi Matthews come forward to tell the full truth

29th June 2016

DA: James Selfe says DA files supplementary affidavit that should have Jimmi Matthews come forward to tell the full truth

SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng

The DA has filed a supplementary affidavit in its ongoing case against the SABC and Hlaudi Motsoeneng, requesting the Western Cape High Court to discount the representations made to the Court by former SABC Acting Group CEO, Jimmi Matthews.

This should give Mr Matthews a golden opportunity to correct his statements to the Court in an affidavit he lodged in Mr Motsoeneng’s stay application earlier this month.

Mr Matthews, in his affidavit, sang the praises of SABC COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, claiming that his presence at the SABC is vital to the public broadcaster and that the SABC would effectively suffer without Motsoeneng’s leadership. However, in his recent resignation Mr Matthews cites that he left because of the “corrosive atmosphere” at the SABC which has become untenable under Mr Motsoeneng’s leadership.

Appreciating the latest developments and clamp down of press freedom at the SABC, we can only assume that Mr Matthews was under duress when deposing to his supplementary affidavit and must use this golden opportunity to right this wrong and make representations that are more commensurate with his reasons for leaving.

This resignation comes hot on the heels of several politically motivated suspensions of those who speak out against the embattled SABC COO who has turned the public broadcaster into his own personal fiefdom hell-bent on reporting only good news about the ANC and President Jacob Zuma.

His most recent order and most arbitrary ban of negative stories about President Jacob Zuma typifies the clampdown in ethical and fair reporting which the DA has taken severe exception to.

Equally concerning are the draconian editorial polices he has proclaimed, resulting in the ban on broadcasting service delivery protests. The DA is of the view that this is a flagrant attempt to protect the ANC from scrutiny and its abysmal service delivery record to date which has forced frustrated South Africans to take to the streets in order to be heard by the ANC in government.

We look forward to a response to our supplementary affidavit, and trust that the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, will be declared.

 

Issued by DA