SABC KWACHAFUKA

Several top journalists have quit the SABC, reportedly because their working conditions under Snuki Zikalala, the managing director of news, have become intolerable. Several SABC staffers told The Sunday Independent on condition of anonymity they too would leave if given the opportunity because as journalists they were expected to present exclusively positive stories about government activities. Lesego Mncwango, the SABC spokesperson, on Friday confirmed the resignations of Vuyo Mvoko, the political editor, and Kalay Maistry and Clayson Monyela, both senior political reporters. Three members of the science desk - Mahlatse Gallens, Stuart Thompson and Mandla Zembe - have also quit. Zembe was allegedly hounded by S'bu Ndebele, the KwaZulu-Natal premier, for reporting that Ndebele had been stoned at a June 16 meeting. 'We believe that there is an intimate connection between staff morale and independence'Mvoko is going to work as an independent political analyst, Maistry has joined al-Jazeera International as its southern African correspondent, while Monyela is joining the government. In addition, the SABC has been operating without a permanent head of television news since Jimi Matthews was sidelined to a newly created position to help the corporation plan for the 2010 soccer World Cup coverage. Amrit Manga, the acting head of television news and a former print journalist, has been criticised by staff for lacking broadcasting experience. The position of head of radio news, vacated by Pippa Green, has also not been filled. "No one wants to work here, the morale is low and people are looking for jobs in droves," a senior staffer said on condition of anonymity. She said many people in the newsroom lacked confidence and did not feel they had their bosses' support. "Before Zikalala's return the newsroom had an energy and journalists could express themselves freely: now we're under siege," she said.This year, a growing list of people have quit, including Trevor Smit, SABC3 general manager; Aletta Alberts, SABC2 general manager; Laura MacKenzie, SABC2 financial manager; Hannelie Bekker, SABC3 programme manager; Tango Lamani, acting senior general manager of corporate affairs; Savannah Williams, SABC3 marketing manager; Elize Viljoen, SABC2 commissioning editor; Sherelle Schmulian, the executive manager in the office of the SABC chief executive; Dr Anina Maree, the head of market research at SABC radio; and Paul Setsete, the former SABC spokesperson.