Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has disputed reports that South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Head of News Meshoeshoe Monare is being targeted ahead of the 29 May general elections.
Magwenyas comments follow a News24 article that Monare is under scrutiny for the negative publicity against the African National Congress (ANC) leading up to the elections.
This was reportedly after what is purported to be a leaked audio recording of ANC president Cyril Ramaphosas plans during a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that the party would challenge any negative reporting by media houses.
Magwenya says Monares vetting process was requested by the SABC only because his security clearance was not completed after joining the public broadcaster in 2022.
Upon his appointment, Mr Monare gave consent to the vetting process and completed the form that was furnished to him, and went further to submit some but not all of the information that was required. The process was stalled when Mr Monare did not want to submit himself to a polygraph test which is part of the vetting process.
Presidency Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya hosts a media briefing to update the public on the Presidents public programme and interact with media on other related topical issues in the country: Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Campaign for Free Expression Professor Anton Harber, says that Monares independence is of critical importance.
According to Harber the presidency saying that Monare is not targeted is not enough.
"It's good that they say hes not being targeted, but I dont think its enough. What they need to do is call off the SSA, and re-look at the strange policy that requires journalists to be subjected to scrutiny by the SSA, intrusive scrutiny, unnecessary scrutiny, and what looks because of the timing- suspiciously like pre-election harassment. It comes two years after he joined the SABC, and started the job, it comes shortly after this incident where SABC ran audio of the president speaking behind closed doors when he was saying that theyre going to challenge any media thats too critical of the ANC."
