Four of the 'SABC 8' plead for Parliament to intervene
Four of the so-called SABC 8 did not hold back as they gave testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee conducting an inquiry into the SABC board's fitness to hold office. As each member took the stand - they all substantiated for Parliament's help in saving the public broadcaster.
The group of journalists, producers and editors were suspended and fired for questioning management's editorial policies implemented earlier this year.
Some have since been re-instated after winning a court challenge.
The committee has heard about some of the meetings some of the SABC 8 were summoned to and ordered to toe the line.
Current Affairs Executive Producer Krivani Pillay says not all is lost because someone is willing to listen.
"This Parliamentary process could be momentous in saving the SABC. Unethical, editorial decisions attack the very core of the public broadcaster's mandate. They have robbed the public of the right to access uncensored information and undermined our right to do our jobs. This could be a turning point," she said.
Responding to a question, Pillay began to list who they felt had let them down.
SABC Economics Editor, Thandeka Gqubule told committee that after a TV interview done by news anchor, Francis Heard with the then Transnet CEO Brian Molefe - she was summoned back to the SABC late in the evening and marched up to the then board chairperson, Ellen Tshabalala's office.
Gqubule says she was told to fire Heard because she had angered Molefe with her questions during the interview.
Gqubule says during one SABC 're-diffusion' - which is like a staff meeting for all of the broadcaster's regions - Tshabalala warned them that the SABC was a national key point and every phone call, sms and e-mail was being monitored.
"How are we supposed to protect the integrity and sanctity of our sources as journalists under those circumstances? Rediffusion is much like you have in George Orwell's 1984 where Mr. Motsoeneng or the chairperson beam themselves on screens throughout the co-operation and the country saying and making various pronouncements - normally, assaults on journalism. The board is complicit in the death of journalism at the SABC," she said.
Parliamentary reporter Lukhanyo Calata told the committee about how, while doing a Parliament highlights package, he disregarded a short conversation with an editor who had told him that the EFF's 'Pay Back the Money' footage was banned.
"Before it aired that same afternoon I received a phonecall from Mr. Nyana Motele. He says - did I not get the instruction that the footage of the EFF was banned? I was taking him on, challenging him on the decision as to why the footage was banned, why was there no email. Mr. Molete then asked me - are you prepared to feed my children if they go to bed hungry at night?," he said.
Calata also recounted an evening where he was called out of band practice by an editor to go back to the offices and re-work the morning news package he had filed from Parliament to include Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
Calata says it's an open secret that Motsoeneng has President Jacob Zuma's backing.
"We'd spoken about it within the SABC - I don't know whether he has his number on speed-dial. That's how it was spoken about in the office. Also, Mr. Motsoeneng has lived up to it because he has behaved in a manner that none of us can explain other than to say surely this guy must have the support of somebody that's very important and very powerful," he said.
In his presentation, Contributing Editor Vuyo Mvoko told MPs there was a level of censorship even back when he was the political editor and Thabo Mbeki was the president.
"We have never gotten to the point - we have never sunk as low as we have sunk now. I mean, there were those instances but people at the time, some of them as bad as we thought they were, at least they had the decency to listen. At least they knew that certain lines could not be crossed," he said.
Mvoko also made startling revelations about the partnership between the SABC and the Guptas.
"What SABC executives haven't informed you about is that they've allowed SABC money to be used to build a rival channel - ANN7," he said.
He also added that the Guptas are making millions from The New Age business breakfasts that are broadcast on SABC flagship programme, Morning Live.