SABC fires its latest political editor, Dumisani Hlophe, after just 5 months, according to reports, with his axing in 2019 as an important election year coming just months before voters go to the polls.

The South African public broadcaster has apparently fired its political editor, Dumisani Hlophe, after just 5 months, according to reports.

With his axing coming in 2019 as a national election year for the country, the firing of Dumisani Hlophe - irrespective of the reasons - will raise further concerns and questions about the credibility of the SABC's SABC News division.

Dumisani Hlophe was appointed as the SABC's political editor in September 2018 with the SABC and the SABC's head of news and current affairs, Phathiswa Magopeni, who at the time said that "his appointment [is] yet another step taken by the public news service to consolidate its position as an independent and impartial news provider".

"We are therefore confident that with the experience and political expertise he brings, Dumisani Hlophe will add value to our political coverage, especially with general elections coming in 2019."

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party at the time criticised Dumisani Hlophe's appointment as a "step backwards" for South Africa due to his apparent bias towards the media and political parties.

Sunday World first reported the news about Dumisani Hlophe's apparent firing, with the SABC that has decided to remain silent about a crucial aspect of its editorial SABC News service, unwilling to as of yet confirm or deny Dumisani Hlope's axing.

Dumisani Hlophe, on long leave, was apparently fired over alleged "poor performance", and he was reportedly "managed out" after allegedly "struggling to cope" in the position of political editor.

Political analyst Dumisani Hlophe's appointment as SABC political editor slammed as 'a step backwards' for the South African public broadcaster over his bias towards the media and political parties.

The appointment of the political analyst Dumisani Hlophe, who isn't a journalist, as the SABC's new political editor at SABC News is being criticised as a step backwards for the South African public broadcaster.

Dumisani Hlophe is being slammed as "bad news" for the SABC by the Democratic Alliance political party over his media bias, his patriarchal comments and his comments on photos of half-naked women.

"The SABC's decision to appoint Dumisani Hlophe as political editor is deeply puzzling and worrying," says Phumzile Van Damme, the DA member of parliament and the party's shadow minister of communications, about the appointment the SABC announced on late Friday afternoon.

Dumisani Hlophe will take over as SABC political editor from Monday 3 September. The caustic and so-called Hlaudi Motsoeneng enforcer, Sophie Mokoena, was acting SABC political editor until she quit in July.

Dumisani Hlophe previously made appearances as political analyst on SABC News (DStv 404), eNCA (DStv 403) and the now shuttered Gupta-news" channel ANN7 (DStv 405) (rebranded Afro Worldview).

"Dumisani Hlophe is not a practising journalist, his only experience with broadcasting is as a 'political analyst' on the SABC with 'commentary' often odd and thumb-sucked," says the DA in a statement.

"There are many talented practicing journalists the SABC could have chosen from, who would have been a far better choice. Dumisani Hlophe does not inspire confidence at all. He is bad news".

According to Dumisani Hlophe's Twitter account, he appears to be a patriarch with tweets proclaiming men as heads of the family and commenting on pgotos of half-naked women, says the political party, noting that Dumisani Hlophe has shown "special loathing for the Democratic Alliance.

Dumisani Hlophe has tweeted things like:

 "The irony is: whilst @MYANC is keen to demilitarize and weaken the Left; it always leaves the Right to strengthen itself. It castrated @_cosatu;  @SACP1921 and now targets @EFFSouthAfrica nut it has no plan to weaken the right wing agenda led by @Our_DA."

"Where are the DA Headquarters? I am in Cape Town and I want to march there and demand the reintegration of Cape Town into South Africa."

"Maimane to stand for DA's parliamentary leader. Another darkie Zille project. Just where society will see a fake de racialised DA."

"The media dubs criticism of Thuli Madonsela as an attack on the Public Protector - interesting indeed. I think she is soft on the DA."


Dumisani Hlophe has also attacked South Africa's media:

"@pinkykhoabane in the quest to be ANC critic, the media overlapped to be an addition to ANC opposition. Hence, they contain DA journalists."

"The mainstream liberal media is a key player in South Africa’s politics. It is not an independent observer."

"No Bruce. That’s a mere bourgeoisie spin. Absolute liberal self-serving propaganda. The fact is: this shows a clear collusion between senior politicians in public office and business sector in advancing their mutual interests."


The Democratic Alliance says "we truly hope Dumisani Hlophe will prove our misgivings about him wrong and fulfill the SABC's mandate to be impartial, independent and provide a reasonable, balanced opportunity for the public to receive a variety of points of view on matters of public concern, especially during an election year."

"His appointment is a step backwards for the SABC, and is discouraging given the excellent appointments it has made of late."

BREAKING. Dumisani Hlophe appointed as the SABC's new political editor.

The political analyst Dumisani Hlophe has been appointed as the SABC's new permanent political editor in the long-vacant position at the South African public broadcaster.

Dumisani Hlophe will take over as SABC political editor from Monday 3 September. The caustic and so-called Hlaudi Motsoeneng enforcer, Sophie Mokoena, was acting SABC political editor until she quit in July.

The SABC in a statement says Dumisani Hlophe's "new role at the SABC News and current affairs division will include managing and guiding the news political team in ensuring a high level of authoritative, accurate, engaging and fair political journalism; the values SABC News treasures in ensuring constant fulfillment of its mandate and in providing content in a balanced and unrestrained manner".

Dumisani Hlophe previously made appearances as political analyst on SABC News (DStv 404), eNCA (DStv 403) and the now shuttered Gupta-news" channel ANN7 (DStv 405) (rebranded Afro Worldview).

In its statement the SABC says "the South African Broadcasting Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Dumisani Hlophe as a political editor SABC News and current affairs" although his appointment is to the only position of political editor at the SABC - there are not more than one or other political editor positions at the broadcaster.

The SABC says Dumisani Hlophe "has vast experience in the political, research and content programming fields emanating from working as a political science lecturer, writer, political analyst, and political editor among other responsibilities he was previously entrusted with".

Dumisani Hlophe in a prepared quote issued by the SABC says "it is an honour to be part of a public broadcaster that seeks to strengthen the country's democracy; and to be joining a seasoned media personnel who strive to do their best in delivering quality news content to the South African citizens and the continent".

"His appointment [is] yet another step taken by the public news service to consolidate its position as an independent and impartial news provider," says Phathiswa Magopeni, the head of SABC News and current affairs.

"He comes in during a transitional stage where we are not only strengthening our adherence to the public mandate, but also strategically transforming our newsroom by examining our editorial processes to ensure credible and trusted content to the public of South Africa and beyond."

"We are therefore confident that with the experience and political expertise he brings, Dumisani Hlophe will add value to our political coverage, especially with general elections coming in 2019. We look forward to working with him and wish him the best".

Dumisani Hlophe has a master's degree in political science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a certificate of executive leadership and management from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GBIS), a certificate in advanced research  methodologies from Stellenbosch and is currently working on his PhD in political leadership and state performance at the University of South Africa (Unisa).