SABC News GE found guilty for failing to prevent the airing of interdicted story

SABC Editor-in-Chief, Phathiswa Magopeni has been found guilty after her disciplinary hearing of failing to prevent the broadcast, airing and publication of an interdicted story.

Magopeni was facing three charges which included failure to discharge her fiduciary duties as well as bringing the public broadcaster into disrepute.

The charges related to the airing of an interdicted Special Assignment programme. An internal disciplinary hearing chaired by Advocate Nazeer Cassim, found that she was guilty on only one of the three charges.

Cassim ruled that there was no evidence to suggest that Magopeni deliberately defied an order of the court. He recommended the Group Executive of News and Current Affairs be given a warning.

The SABC has declined to comment stating it’s an internal process. Magopeni’s lawyers have confirmed they received the ruling.

On the third day of the internal disciplinary hearing between the public broadcaster and Magopeni, she reiterated that she did not defy an interdict when a programme was erroneously aired on the public broadcaster’s platform.

According to Magopeni, there are gaps in the SABC system that need to be rectified when it comes to dealing with legal issues. She says there is a need to be clear Standard operating procedures across the entire public broadcaster.

Magopeni accused the public broadcaster of conducting an investigation through a disciplinary hearing.