SAFM apologizes for interview containing unverified claims about migrants
South African radio station SAFM has publicly apologized for an interview with March and March movement leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, in which claims about migrants were made without supporting evidence. Broadcasting Complaints Commission Commissioner Ben Vinks concluded that the SABC had violated provisions of the Free-to-Air Broadcasters’ Code.
As Daily Maverick reports, the interview was broadcast on June 3 on The National Pulse program. The complaint was filed by social justice activist Christopher Rutledge. In his view, the station aired serious claims about migrants, crime, corruption, civil society organizations and national security without requiring evidence, verification, or informing listeners that they were disputed.
Claims that became the subject of the complaint
Ngobese-Zuma claimed, among other things, that foreign nationals had allegedly committed 60% of serious crimes in Gauteng province. She also alleged that foreign-funded organizations were supposedly buying weapons, that bombs and explosives were being brought into the country, that foreign military bases were operating in South Africa, and that foreign nationals allegedly avoided prosecution by bribing police.
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Rutledge stressed that these were not political assessments, but factual claims that could be verified or disproved. According to him, the host did not ask the interviewee to provide evidence, and listeners were not told that the statements had not undergone independent verification.
Commissioner’s findings
Before the interview with Ngobese-Zuma, GroundUp deputy editor Daniel Steyn appeared on air and challenged some of March and March’s claims about immigrants. SAFM said that Ngobese-Zuma’s remarks were her personal views and that the two discussions together presented the audience with alternative and conflicting positions.
Vinks considered each of the five statements separately and ruled that the broadcaster had breached the code in every case. He noted that the claims were presented as facts, although they could expose immigrants in South Africa to contempt, discrimination and even displacement. The commissioner ordered the SABC to air a summary of the findings and an apology for the violations on the same program. The broadcaster accepted full responsibility and said it would use the ruling to strengthen editorial safeguards in high-risk public and political discussions.
