Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The SABC to re-establish a relationship with the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) after breaking all ties a decade ago.


The SABC is set to re-establish a relationship with the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) after the SABC withdrew from the organisation a decade ago over media coverage of South Africa's controversial minister of health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang who has since died.

The SABC and Sanef will sign a "memorandum of understanding", with the South African public broadcaster which will work and cooperate with Sanef again.

"What is important is that SABC now getting involved in meetings and have robust discussion so that we can influence direction and the public mandate within the SABC, this is our view," says the SABC's famously matricless acting chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

"What is benefit for the SABC, what is the benefit for Sanef, those are the issues we are dealing with and I am happy that Sanef are on board so that we can take our country forward," says Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

"It is important that the SABC participates in our activities. I think we will be poor if the SABC continues to stay away - although we have a few colleagues at the SABC participating," says Mpumelelo Mkhabela, Sanef chairperson.

"I think this decision will ensure that more senior colleagues from the SABC participate and that can only be good for the media in South Africa and for Sanef in particular," says Mpumeleo Mkhabela.