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The ETV Story - We Still South Africa

Written by Toodecent from the blog IN THE ZONE on 21 Jan 2010
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Just recently I have been following with a good eye the story of ETV being served with a subpoena to avail and mention the names and addresses of their sources. Not only am I waiting to see what the bear John Qwelani will say about it if he ever writes about it since he seems to suck up to the ruling associates but how the Government is handling this issue has put the freedom of the media at a dingy corner again.

The station broadcasted the clip of two men both claiming or vowing to rob tourists during the world cup as if they rightfully deserve to do so, yes its soooo wrong by the men to say that and let alone to make it like they owed something. No one or the world owes them anything, not even apartheid..But journalists have the right to protect their sources, they are a danger to society as a whole yes but when do we get to dealing with such sittuations as South Africa?
Bin Laden seems to be recording messages everytime he gets bored of America not finding him but I have never heard of the Americans taking over the television station or forcing them to reveal where the tapes originated. Well maybe they have and but who cares all that matters is life goes on and we read about importants or things happening in life and what we should be aware of....

Anyway am interested in knowing what you Television South Africa reader thinks about the whole sittuation. Ben Said and Mpho Lakaje were ordered to appear in court and name the individuals. The latest media reports are that the ETV source has commited suicide and that one of the men on the clip has been arrested and apperently the station hasnt played ball with the Police.

ETV Chief Executive Officer had earlier came out to support his employees..

from bizcommunity.com

Golding said: "Mpho and Ben were simply doing their jobs as journalists. This type of story is not unusual and similar stories have been covered by other media, including respected international broadcasters.

"The reaction against eNews from certain quarters has been unreasonable and disproportionate. eNews has a reputation for reporting stories without fear or favour - no matter how unpalatable such information may be. Moreover, eNews has consistently provided high profile coverage of SAPS successes in the fight against crime. To impugn the integrity of eNews or to question its patriotism is disingenuous."

”e.tv has also taken the initiative to highlight the work of the SAPS in a series of inserts called "South African Heroes". These inserts have been produced and broadcast by e.tv since the end of last year and they profile positive initiatives taken by SAPS members around the country. These inserts air on e.tv and the eNews channel several times on a daily basis.

What do you as a South African think of the matter, YES with the world cup coming in June and all security risks being mentioned by international media who BTW are "Just doing their Jobs" or as a Journo or an ordinary person like me...What is you take?

25 Comments

Green.arrow
21 Jan 2010 19:02

Thanx for the articel Toody, been hoping that its written coz i dont quite get it and i need lots and lots of clarity...and TVSA usually does the trick..
Now let me read...

Toodecent
21 Jan 2010 19:04

No problem GA...I also personaly want to understand the thin line in between :-)

Green.arrow
21 Jan 2010 19:25

As an ordinary person who knows nothing about the media world and how the saps works..

Speaking of the saps..Nathi Mthethwa is on tv now...chanting rhetorics as usual about the subject at hand.

I find it strange that these journalists are not being given a pat on the bag for the work they did. Had they not exposed these people,they would still be plotting the evils they confessed and noone..including the police would know.

On the other hand ,while i respect the journalist code of respecting the source, i dont undertsand why the police and etv could not have worked together to bring the two guys in, because they are all working together in the interest of the country....i dont know how,but im sure they could have worked something out...?

I hope etv will continue to do more ground breaking investigative journalism, i cant stand being fed things that are obvious (yes you SABC). The saps can learn a thing or two from etv on how to get to this criminals before they commit the crimes.

And deepest condolences to the "dj" 's family....if this whole matter was handled discreetly, maybe he would be fine. BUt noo...the ruling party likes flaunting things that will make them look good to the public...like "tracking down two criminals who confessed on tv bla bla.."....they can make a noise about bigger chases than this one,not that i think this is not important...

But now...hasnt it been reported that because the "source" is dead,etv has lost the link to the two guys, i see one's arrested as ytou say Toody...???

Toodecent
21 Jan 2010 19:39

I agree with you GA, yeah according to the times and press conference that happened in the afternoon they have arrrested one. Ans YES ETV must be congratulated for the good job they doing in news and all...its better than the govey crap @ Auckland Park.

Green.arrow
21 Jan 2010 20:44

ooryt....i even saw the timeslive report on the arrest of the other....Hawkers caught him...kudos to the guy on the street,second to the journos....saps what???...all they do is make noise....

Oh and how good with words these guys are.....ba re ETV is fraternisng with criminals..he hee

This is indeed one of those issues thats not all black and white...or is it?

Toodecent
21 Jan 2010 21:13

..ba re ETV is fraternisng with criminals..he hee>>>> LOL...dictionary terms.

GML
22 Jan 2010 07:59

What I find disturbing is that it is hard enough as it is trying to convince the world that we are capable of hosting a successful world cup. What ETV did was simply making an already bad situation even worse. Yes, it makes for a good story but was it necessary to air that months before the games begin. It ploughs a seed of doubt and lack of confidence in tourists. Those who have not made arrangements to come to SA may not even make them anymore because of this.

Now, as good as the report was, was it good/right for them to air it. Especially if they claim to care about SA and believing in the country's capabilities to host a successful world cup.

You care about the SA world cup yet you plough seeds of doubt in gullible tourists heads......????????///

Green.arrow
22 Jan 2010 08:21

Thats another relevant dimension the story GML. A forth one (for me) would then (from what you are saying) bein a form of a qwuestion:
Is it not in the interest of the country for them to report of anything that may put the country in disrepute if not concidered and hopefully "intercepted" ahead of time???

Uhm maybe those who have been pushing the crime propaganda against the country have succeeded,because a lot of people even domestically bought into the scare.
This morning on "morning live" someone wrote in a letter stating that,in the history of SA sport,no one was ever stabbed,however some woman was sdtabed during a sport event in Europe (forgot the country). I wish people were not so gullible as to just based their view on the negatives,but sadly.most are.

PS:...i dont think tbis two guys are hardcore (lack of a better word), i hope there arent such plots happening,and if there are, the saps better be working...atleast now they know they need to extend the "resolution of their crime "detection" radar.."

Mathaz
22 Jan 2010 08:37

As citizens it's our responsibility to report criminal behaviour and activities. I was also not impressed by the criminals bragging on national TV that they are ready to spoil the hard work that we have been preparing for all along. As much as it seems as infringing the rights of the press or their sources, in this case I stand with the police force to subpoena the journalist. I was impressed when I heard that one of them has been arrested.

GML
22 Jan 2010 08:45

Good point GA.

It's really unfortunate that a lot of people take certain things at face value adn they focus on the negative. Which we all know that negative things always dominate. Hence my statement.

It does not help if they broadcast such a thing but do nothing to help the police. What is the point of reporting something like this and not do anything about it afterwards. They report that these guys are planning to do crimes during the world cup but they do nothing to prevent it from happening. It doesnt make any sense at all.

In these type of situations no one can ever be 100% right.

hlobimk
22 Jan 2010 08:51

My problem is "Why run with the story at such a crucial time?" What was the objective of the broadcast? To scare off all those tourists who are planning on coming to the world cup? If not then why?

The timing that eTV used to broadcast the story is part of the reason why there is such a huge problem now. We already have the whole World worried about their safety in SA especially after the attack on the Togo team in Angola. What did they think the Government was just going to sit and do nothing. In my eyes it would have seemed irresponsible of them period!

The world would not have taken kindly to SA simply saying the journalists were just doing their jobs and mind you Bin Laden was only threatening the USA and these people made it clear their target was the Tourists that will be flooding in the country. To simply dismiss that as good journalism would have really had a negative impact on the country.

I am not a journalist and therefore only they understand that the story was good journalism but we ordinary citizens are taking the whole thing seriously and I hope they do find them and lock them up!

monchooza
22 Jan 2010 09:23

does anyone know if there is a clip of these guys anywhere on the net? i missed it on tv and i am so curious

carino
22 Jan 2010 11:02

@monchooza... I wanted to know that too.... I searched for it ndacama....

carino
22 Jan 2010 11:10

Nna the only question I want to ask the head of news at etv.... is ... "what exactly did they aim to achieve by broadcasting faceless people making baseless threats, in the first place?

realist
22 Jan 2010 11:28

That etv story was stage managed. If they are faceless theydo no exist. Remember the publisity stunt that was pulled by endemol from amsterdam about some organ transplant. It is the same stunt with etv, they are getting desperate and hence this stunt. Those so called criminals that were shown on tv simply do not exist. I am with the police on this one. Etv wzs trying to mock the police and they did not anticipate the backlash from the public. It just shows you that they are pathetic and desparate for publicity.

Mathaz
22 Jan 2010 11:38

Guys the person who was the link between etv and the criminals committed suicide this week and the one was arrested apparently says that he was paid R2000. Thought responsible journalists do not pay their sources.

carino
22 Jan 2010 11:44

@ Realist

True

Some radio dj said:

Who is the official broadcaster for the world cup? SABC

Who thinks noone will be watching their channel? etv

Now they tryina sway the attention, sabotage and plant seeds of doubt.... they should just stick to wrestling it works for them....

I still kwa kwa kwa at this statement.

Msoe
22 Jan 2010 11:58

Its on youtube monchooza

Tholi
22 Jan 2010 12:03

The Link please!!!!!!

T.O
22 Jan 2010 12:09

Ever heard of the word, " defeating the ends of justice" they are acessory to crime. Freddom of expression has its limit. Crime is a very sensitive issue and as long as u live in this country u will be binded by the rule of law of this country not America. we need to draw a clear distinction as to where and how far the journalist can go.

South Africans are dying everyday because of crime and we can't afford to fold our hands when stories like this come up. Rule of law has to be enforced otherwise government would be failing its citizens. By the way I always have a problem by the way ETV does thing. Tthey only reporting the negetive stories. nothing good ever came out of this country. I strongly believe there is a propaganda here. Why should I be suprised if they are funded by Americans and are an American project. I would agree with u guys Freedom of speech for the reporters need to be respected but not in this fashion. this is life and death.

nonzuzo
22 Jan 2010 12:46

Yes, link pretty please...

Toodecent
22 Jan 2010 13:39

Well the wrestlin does work hey? LOL..But nonetheless ETV is the best free to air Channel in SA followed by SABC 3.

MaWiNiZa
22 Jan 2010 14:23

Msoe what is it called.....i cant find it...or better yet pls give up a link

Tholi
22 Jan 2010 15:34

eNews a bunch of 'crime kissers:' Cele

kwakwakwakwakwa!!!! u gota love Bheki Cele..lol @ the above headline.

Tashi
23 Jan 2010 09:50

This press release came in yesterday (22 January) from e.tv:

"eNews rejects Cele’s allegations

eNews rejects the untrue and defamatory statements made by the National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele that the station is a friend of criminals and is trying to deter foreign tourists from coming to South Africa. The channel calls on the National Police Commissioner and others to desist from making further defamatory allegations against the channel.

The channel rejects claims by the Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa that eNews did not offer him or his Ministry right of reply. In fact the Police Ministry agreed that an interview already done with the Minister and National Police Commissioner not be flighted. eNews then immediately offered the Minister the opportunity to come live on air on several occasions to respond. These offers were rejected.

Following reports that the criminal arrested yesterday claimed to have been paid R2 000 for his story, eNews places on record that its editorial policy strictly prohibits chequebook journalism, and that such claims are untrue.

The State has refused to withdraw the section 205 subpoenas against Ben Said and Mpho Lakaje, despite the fact that this is contrary to a standing agreement reached between the State and the South African National Editors Forum. Said and Lakaje are compelled to appear in the Magistrates Court on Monday in connection with this matter. eNews stands firmly behind its journalists and intends to defend this matter using every potential legal avenue including, if possible, the Constitutional Court.

While eNews has always supported the police in the fight against crime, the use of apartheid-era laws by the police makes it impossible for eNews to provide the public with any insight into the criminal underworld or to protect innocent whistleblowers and those fearing police intimidation.

As unsettling as it is to hear criminals threaten our peace and security, only ever reporting what politicians and the police have to say, means the public cannot distinguish between the truth and propaganda."

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