South Africa: SABC Editor-In-Chief Called For Security Vetting, Polygraph Before Election

Lusaka, May 6, 2024 — The Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday expressed alarm that South Africa’s spy agency wants to subject Moshoeshoe Monare, the editor-in-chief of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), to additional security vetting and an invasive lie-detector test ahead of the country’s crucial May 29 general election. A senior official at the State Security Agency (SSA) telephoned Monare, who is also the public broadcaster’s Group Executive of News and Current Affairs, on April 18 and said he had to undergo top-level security vetting, including a polygraph test, according to an SABC TV interview with Monare on April 29, a City Press news report, and a joint statement by local media freedom organizations condemning the request as intimidatory and a threat to press freedom. The SSA’s vetting request, made on behalf of the SABC, followed a leaked audio recording, reviewed by CPJ, of President Cyril Ramaphosa telling the African National Congress’ election committee on April 11 that local media had “no right to be negative” towards the governing party and that its election campaign messages must dominate television and radio. “The SABC’s top management and board must guard the broadcaster’s hard-won editorial independence and avoid complicity in...