South Africa News

DA and Cope to write to Parliament over sacking of SABC news head

Political parties say they will be writing to Parliament’s portfolio committee on Communications to demand an urgent meeting regarding former SABC head of news Phathiswa Magopeni’s dismissal.

Magopeni is reportedly set to legally challenge the SABC’s decision.

She was fired from her position on Friday by the public broadcaster, citing a breakdown of trust.

A disciplinary hearing last year had found Magopeni guilty of misconduct after she allegedly failed to ensure that an interdicted Special Assignment programme was not aired.

The ousted head of news had claimed that the disciplinary action against her was a result of political interference after the African National Congress (ANC)’s Fikile Mbalula blamed the public broadcaster for the party’s dismal performance in the elections.

Both the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Congress of the People (Cope) said that they would be writing to Parliament’s chairperson of the portfolio committee on Communications, Boyce Maneli, to investigate the claims of editorial and political interference in the newsroom.

Cope’s spokesperson, Dennis Bloem: “It is very clear that the SABC wants to recapture the SABC newsroom. We must never allow political meddling in the SABC newsroom again. The SABC is a public broadcaster, not an ANC mouthpiece.”

-EWN

In other news – Photos: Mafikizolo’s Theo and wife Vourne get married for second time in a beautiful wedding

Mafikizolo member Theo Kgosinkwe and his wife Vourne tied the knot for the second time this weekend. The couple already got married in 2020 but only invited immediate family due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Theo Kgosinkwe and his wife Vourne

They finally got their big wedding on Saturday, 29 January and it was attended by people such as fellow Mafikizolo singer Nhlanhla Mafu, Brinnette Seopela, Simphiwe Majola, and Sibulele Sibaca. The guests took to social media to share pictures of themselves at the wedding. Learn More