KWAAD: DA and AfriForum challenge SABC over sudden removal of Afrikaans news segment.
Image: Karen Sandison
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and AfriForum have called out the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) regarding the disappearance of the Afrikaans news segment.
The SABC removed the regular 6.15pm bulletin on SABC2 without announcement at the weekend, with no replacement times given.
DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp says: “The sudden disappearance of the Afrikaans news bulletin this past weekend, without any communication from the SABC on the reasons behind this decision, is troubling.
“The DA demands that the SABC provide immediate clarification on why this essential service has been halted. It is crucial that we understand whether this is a permanent change, a once-off incident, or something else entirely.
“For many South Africans, the SABC Nuus on SABC2, which has a devoted audience of over 300 000, has been an essential source of news and information. All of these viewers must pay for their TV licenses, and it is completely unacceptable that the SABC would show such indifference towards such a large segment of the population.
“As the public broadcaster the SABC has a duty to serve all language communities.”
Similarly, lobby group AfriForum has promised to take on the SABC. In a letter sent to the chairperson, chief executive and management of the SABC, AfriForum demanded an explanation.
AfriForum's head of Cultural Affairs, Alana Bailey that Afrikaans consumers are loyal and financially strong.
She adds: “About a third of the market is Afrikaans. This makes it even more incomprehensible that the SABC is choosing to alienate this market.
“It is choosing to kill a proverbial goose that is laying golden eggs!”