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afrol News, 1 August - The South African Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday evening, July 31, apologised to Namibian President Sam Nujoma for quoting him out of context in a documentary programme about the situation of sexual and other minorities in Namibia aired last month. According to a report in "The Namibian" newspaper of August 31, the programme Special Assignment broadcast an apology for the "very serious journalistic error" which was read out by the presenter. The text of the apology had been agreed with the Namibian Government. SABC journalist Sara Blecher, who interviewed Nujoma, has been given a serious reprimand while the broadcaster said steps were being taken within the SABC to ensure that such a mistake did not occur again. The documentary used Nujoma's speech at a Cassinga Day Rally on May 4 this year where he spoke about the enemies of the state and referred to poverty, ignorance and hunger but created an impression that Nujoma had referred to gays, lesbians and other minorities in the country. The Namibian President and cabinet members earlier, however, had made harsh verbal attacks against these minorities. - We apologise for this mistake, the programme's presenter said last night. The Government had also accused the programme of unethical behaviour in the way it obtained the interview with Nujoma. The SABC tackled this allegation by stating: "They (the Namibian Government) say we also failed to give the President the right of reply regarding his position on gay and lesbian rights. Our journalist did attempt to discuss the issue of minority rights with the President. But he said to her 'you had better not because where peace prevails there is no need to disturb'." - However, the SABC said it accepted that the programme makers did not do enough to confront Nujoma on his statements on gays and lesbians, they said. "This was also a mistake." President Nujoma earlier this year had announces purges against Namibian gays and lesbians by stating, "Police are ordered to arrest you, and deport you and imprison you." No such comments and threats however exist on tape. SABC's External Communications Manager Marj Murray confirmed that the apology's text had been agreed on with the Namibian Government. Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary Mocks Shivute said in a statement that the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA) had given SABC until last Friday to react to Government's complaint. An agreement on the text of the apology was eventually reached on Monday and Government then withdrew its complaint. Shivute said it was high time the Namibian media seriously looked into its journalistic principles by setting up a media council or a complaints commission for both print and electronic media which "the ordinary person on the street" could turn to for recourse. Earlier the SABC had refused to apologise to Nujoma. Special Assignment Editing Manager Chris Marguard had said the SABC had consulted its lawyers and was not going to apologise. Sources: Based on Media Inst. of Southern Africa, The Namibian and afrol archives
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