Issued by: North West Communications Service
PRESS RELEASE FROM NORTH WEST DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SPORT, RECREATION, ARTS AND CULTURE
MARCH 12 1996.
The North West Province Department of Education, Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture wishes to record in the strongest terms its dismay at the biased reports by the BBC News team on matters relating to education.
Last week, BBC News reported that there were (inter-racial) fights every Friday at the Mafikeng Primary School. this report was found to be a gross exaggeration of the situation at the school, which has a stated policy of non-racialism.
The parents and staff of the school re-iterated their commitment to non-racism at a well-attended parents meeting on Thursday 7 March 1996. The parents have pledged their loyalty to the school in the confidence that all problems can be overcome by cooperation and goodwill.
We are not aware of a single school where children do not ever fight. the department, which is responsible for the school, was never approached for comment on the matter, and the impression given to the viewers was that the situation at Mafikeng is out of control and dangerous and that the department is unable to take charge of situations of conflict.
We did, in fact, investigate immediately. the department is concerned that sensationalist news reports such as this are not only exaggerations, but are also irresponsible and hysterical.
We believe that it is an attempt on the part of BBC to try to recreate a Potgietersrus situation at the expense of stability in education. The evening news of Monday, 11 March 1996 was equally disturbing. BBC reported that the Department of Education and SADTU had issued a joint directive which put the principal of Batlhaping High School in Taung on indefinite leave; that the department and SADTU wished to expel expatriate teachers and that SADTU had withdrawn its members from the school after citing fears of violence against them. The impression given to viewers is that the department is xenophobic, and engaging in unfair labour practices and that the department is co-managed by SADTU . Such a news report aims to demonise and belittle the department. Again, BBC has not contacted the department for comment, but has rushed straight into broadcasting statements which are potentially very inflammatory of an already very tense situation. The department views both news reports in a very serious light because of the one-sided acceptance of views. We believe that media reporting should be free and investigative, but also responsible, fair and accurate.
We call on the BBC newsroom to apologise publicly for their lack of balanced reporting, and to undertake to hear both sides of every dispute before broadcasting.
Contact: Neo Sehume (0140) 845995 fax: 842476