The ANC in KwaZulu/Natal is shocked that one of the journalists of the SABC in the Durban studios, Carole Lane, is state witness number 33 in the current General Malan and others trial on the KwaMakhutha Massacre. The indictment of the prosecution describes her as SA Police Services, Amanzimtoti.
On 26 September 1995, the ANC issued a media statement and we quote the relevant paragraph:- "The ANC is receiving disturbing information about some members of staff of SABC in the Durban studios. There are two SABC journalists who have accompanied police in almost all sensitive police operations such as police raids. It is always these two journalists who accompany the police. Our investigations show that it is not the editors who deploy them to such missions. The SABC in Durban must therefore come out very clearly whether these two journalists who were recently promoted to become specialist journalists are at the same time police informants. Are they receiving two salaries?"
This statement triggered a chain of events. We attach a letter from Joe Thloloe, Deputy Editor-In-Chief to Dumisani Makhaye, Member of the ANC KwaZulu/Natal Provincial Executive. We also attach a letter from the Attorneys of the SABC faxed on 28 September 1995. Later a delegation led by Ms Chillson, then Editor-in-Chief of SATV flew from Johannesburg to try and have a meeting with the ANC delegation led by Jacob Zuma, leader of the ANC in KwaZulu/Natal. The SABC leadership was so desperate for a meeting that they were ready to have it in the passages of the Parliamentary buildings in Pietermaritzburg. A short meeting was held between the ANC and SABC delegations and was adjourned for a later date.
After many calls from the SABC a meeting was held at Truro House, Durban. The SABC was only interested in resolving the problem in the quoted above paragraph. To avoid long litigation and in the interest of the safety of genuine journalists, the ANC withdrew the statement. At that time the impression the ANC had about the reaction of the SABC was that it was because white journalists were involved. This was because it was a known fact that the lives of two SABC black journalists were threatened in two separateto sneak out to save their lives. There was no such a reaction from the SABC. It was also interesting that the SABC used the SAUJ statement condemning the ANC's earlier statement but failed to use the MWASA same issue.
The fact that Carole Lane is a state witness in the General Malan and others trial raises many questions. How was she connected, if there was any connection at all, with the people allegedly involved in the KwaMakhutha Massacre? When she got involved in police activities, did she inform the SABC and if so what was the reaction of the SABC? Was the over-reaction of the SABC leadership to the ANC statement mentioned above as a result of the fact that they knew that Carole Lane was involved in police activities and therefore they were desperately trying to cover-up? How many other police officers, if there are any, are still employed as SABC journalists?
This may be an explanation why on Saturday in the main news bulletin at 19.00 hrs on CCV the main news item was on Chief Buthelezi meeting with the Dikwankwetla Party which was followed by a small group of people who were demonstrating that Chief Buthelezi must not be arrested. Yet on the same day there was a huge COSATU 10th Anniversary rally in Durban which was addressed by the Deputy-State President, Government Ministers and COSATU leaders. That news item was played after the Africa Journal slot and the name of the Deputy State President was not even mentioned. That is how the SABC has transformed itself.
It is not those that point out to these irregularities who are a threat to journalists but only suspicious characters who are employed as journalists who are a threat to themselves. To transform itself, the SABC must f is the view of the ANC in the Province that police officers cannot and must not at the same time be journalists.
Issued by the ANC KwaZulu/Natal Provincial Leadership. Date: 4 October 1995.