PEN Afrikaans supports Thulani Msimang
The SABC has formally given notice to Thulani Msimang to appear at a disciplinary hearing on 13 February 2017 at 10:00.
PEN Afrikaans has seen a copy of the letter dated 26 January.
Under a heading “Summary of facts” the letter refers to three Facebook posts Msimang wrote, but then also to an SMS from a civil servant. Please note: typos in Msimang’s original posts are accurately presented in the letter, quoted below:
1. On or about 11 October 2016 you placed on Social Media the following messages:
1.1 “Is anybody up there prepared to provide leadership”
1.2 “The rise of fees must fall – President #FeesMustFall2016”
1.3 “The #NPA has somehow maneuvered and managed to find its spine and bring the #PravinGordan corruption charges but when ot comes to #Zuma proverbial Dololo”
2. Following your posting of the above message on Facebook the SABC received the following SMS from the Director General in the Province,
2.1 “Mvelase! I must raise our concern about one of your staff members I know he would say his Facebook page is a personal one but I can confirm with you now that the Office of the President will not be comfortable working with such a person holding such views about the President, I thought I would bring this to your attention, thanks”
Under “Misconduct”, the letter to Msimang reads:
3.1 It is alleged that you are guilty of bringing the SABC into disrepute in that:
3.1.1 You brought the SABC into disrepute in or about 11 October 2016 in that you knew and where aware or ought to have reasonably known or ought to have been reasonably excepted to be aware that your placing of information on a Social Media Platform, Facebook, and your role as a Political Reporter at the SABC would link yourself to your Employer the SABC and consequently bring the SABC into disrepute.
PEN Afrikaans strongly objects to the ongoing harassment of Msimang.
It should also be noted that points 1.2 and 1.3 under the “Summary of facts” are widely held views by various independent political commentators. Should the SABC admit that it had never broadcast those views, it would be another disgrace to the public broadcaster itself. Had the broadcaster given fair airtime to independent commentators, Msimang’s posts would simply have reflected views aired by his employer. Point 1.1 is so vague that harassing someone based on that line suddenly begs for the phrase to be turned into a serious question.
PEN Afrikaans strongly objects to a civil servant’s opinion being used to harass Msimang. That SMS further underlines the public’s opinion that the SABC cannot be trusted as an independent news source.
PEN Afrikaans repeats its call that the harassment of Msimang be stopped and that all actions against him, including, but not limited to the disciplinary hearing, be stopped immediately. Should the SABC continue with its actions against Msimang, PEN Afrikaans will call on PEN International and its global network to support our protest against the South African public broadcaster which is so clearly politically compromised, as is apparent in their own “Summary of facts” handed to Msimang.
PEN Afrikaans staan by Thulani Msimang
Die SABC het Thulani Msimang amptelik in kennis gestel van 'n dissiplinêre verhoor teen hom op 13 Februarie 2017 om 10:00.
PEN Afrikaans het 'n afskrif van die brief, gedateer 26 Januarie, gesien.
Onder ’n hofie “Summary of facts” verwys die brief na drie Facebook-inskrywings wat Msimang gemaak het, maar ook na 'n SMS van 'n staatsamptenaar. Let wel: die spelfoute in die oorspronklike plasings van Msimang word akkuraat weergegee in die brief wat hier onder aangehaal word.
1. On or about 11 October 2016 you placed on Social Media the following messages:
1.1 “Is anybody up there prepared to provide leadership”
1.2 “The rise of fees must fall – President #FeesMustFall2016”
1.3 “The #NPA has somehow maneuvered and managed to find its spine and bring the #PravinGordan corruption charges but when ot comes to #Zuma proverbial Dololo”
2. Following your posting of the above message on Facebook the SABC received the following SMS from the Director General in the Province,
2.1 “Mvelase! I must raise our concern about one of your staff members I know he would say his Facebook page is a personal one but I can confirm with you now that the Office of the President will not be comfortable working with such a person holding such views about the President, I thought I would bring this to your attention, thanks”
Onder die hofie "Misconduct" lui die brief aan Msimang:
3.1 It is alleged that you are guilty of bringing the SABC into disrepute in that:
3.1.1 You brought the SABC into disrepute in or about 11 October 2016 in that you knew and where aware or ought to have reasonably known or ought to have been reasonably excepted to be aware that your placing of information on a Social Media Platform, Facebook, and your role as a Political Reporter at the SABC would link yourself to your Employer the SABC and consequently bring the SABC into disrepute.
PEN Afrikaans maak ten sterkste beswaar teen die voortgesette teistering van Msimang.
Punte 1.2 en 1.3 onder die hofie "Summary of facts" weerspieël die mening van verskeie onafhanklike politieke kommentators. Sou die SABC erken dat hulle daardie sienings nooit uitgesaai het nie, sou dit nog ’n klad op die naam van die openbare uitsaaier wees. Indien die openbare uitsaaier wel billike lugtyd gegee het aan onafhanklike kommentators, sou Msimang se plasing bloot menings weerspieël het wat wel deur sy werkgewer uitgesaai is. Punt 1.1 is so vaag dat die teistering van ’n persoon weens daardie woorde juis maak dat daardie reëltjie skielik ’n ernstige vraag word.
PEN Afrikaans maak ook ten sterkste beswaar dat die mening van 'n staatsamptenaar gebruik word om Msimang te teister. Daardie SMS onderstreep nog eens die publiek se siening dat die SABC nie vertrou kan word as ’n onafhanklike nuusbron nie.
PEN Afrikaans herhaal sy eis dat die teistering van Msimang gestaak moet word en dat alle optrede teen hom, insluitend, maar nie beperk nie tot die dissiplinêre verhoor, onmiddellik gestaak moet word. As die SABC sou voortgaan met sy optrede teen Msimang, sal PEN Afrikaans 'n beroep doen op PEN Internasionaal en ons wêreldwye netwerk om ons protes teen Suid-Afrikaanse se openbare uitsaaier, wat so duidelik polities gekompromitteer is, volgens die instansie se eie "Opsomming van feite", te ondersteun.
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