SABC, Hands off Putco and Dineo

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Black First Land First

The SABC continues with its draconian labour practices which must be stopped immediately. The state broadcaster has now irrationally suspended Dineo Ranaka and Putco Mafani for participating in the popular Umlando Challenge. These radio personalities are essentially entertainers. They did nothing unethical. The SABC leadership must rather focus on the perilous state of the public broadcaster and leave the staff to continue to entertain and inform.

It is clear that the SABC lacks mature and visionary leadership. Uplift the suspensions on Putco and Dineo now! The SABC is not the Gestapo and must cease the Hitlerian management style.

The SABC has harassed Putco and Dineo for minor harmless acts but does nothing about sexual predators in its midst.

Issued by Andile Mngxitama, President of BLF
24 January 2022

SABC, reinstate Pastor The DJ now!

Posted on November 15, 2020 by Black First Land First

Pastor The DJ

The SABC must reinstate the Umhlobo Wenene Breakfast show host Phiwe “Pastor The DJ” Nozewu without any further delay. It allowed itself to be bullied into acting without thinking. The muzzling of Pastor the DJ is a direct violation of freedom of expression and also sets a bad precedent where members of the media will be too terrified to lampoon certain political parties. This is bad for media freedom.

The comment made by the host was in bad taste but not a lie nor anything close to violating protected speech. The SABC has jumped on the populist bandwagon out of fear. This shows lack of leadership on the part of the SABC.

The fight against racism cannot claim black victims. Not one white teacher from the racist Brackenfell High School has been suspended. Why is it the black person who must suffer when racism is perpetrated against blacks?

The white hooligans who assaulted those who were protesting are themselves not in anyway punished but a black man is suspended from work.

We further note the apology from Pastor The DJ. We believe it’s both unnecessary and a result of bullying. A more constructive engagement amongst blacks is required about racism and how to fight it.

Black First Land First (BLF) notes the bizarre situation where blacks get punished for acts of racism perpetrated by whites. These fake warriors against racism are too quick to punish black people and strengthen whites.

BLF calls on the SABC to stop the cowardice and let the host go back to work immediately

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee of (BLF NCC)

15 November 2020

Contact Details

Black First Land First Mail: [email protected]

Zanele Lwana
(BLF Deputy President)
Cell: +27 79 986 7225

BLF asks SABC to respect memory of Tsietsi Mashinini

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Black First Land First

Black First Land First (BLF) was shocked to see the announcement that today the SABC will broadcast a lecture by Ronald Lamola of the African National Congress (ANC) on Tsietsi Mashinini. We wrote to the political editor of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to object to this attack on the memory of Tsietsi Mashinini who had refused to join the ANC for clear ideological reasons. Lamola and the ANC have no right to defile the memory of Tsietsi Mashinini and try to recruit him from the grave.

BLF calls on the SABC to be a public broadcaster, not a state party organ of propaganda. Below is the WhatsApp note by BLF sent to the SABC yesterday, to which we received no response:

“Mr Mbeje; afternoon. My name is Andile Mngxitama President of a black consciousness organisation called Black First Land First (BLF). I write now in connection with the Tsietsi Mashinini lecture to be delivered by the Minister of Justice tomorrow through the SABC. It is not clear who the organiser of the lecture is.

We believe its unethical for a minister from a political party which was rejected by Tsietsi to give a lecture on him. This strikes us as an attack on the memory of Tsietsi Mashinini. We have no doubt that Min Lamola will distort the truth about Tsietsi. Lamola has no knowledge about Tsietsi so what gives him the authority to give a lecture on him?

In the interest of balance and in defence of the truth we ask that people who know what Tsietsi stood for and why he was murdered, people like Prof Itumeleng Mosala or Lybon Mabasa be engaged to respond to the lecture.

I was in Soweto when Kwame Toure called to report the murder of Tsietsi Mashinini. I stayed with Khotso Seatlholo. Its my duty to defend the memory of Tsietsi.
I would be happy to respond or assist in anyway possible to maintain balance and the truth about Tsietsi.

Thanks”

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee of (BLF NCC)

18 June 2020

Contact Details

Black First Land First Mail: [email protected]

Zanele Lwana
(BLF Deputy President)
Cell: +27 79 986 7225