In his resignation letter, in which he speaks of the “corrosive atmosphere” inside the corporation, Matthews also says the following: “ For many months I have compromised values that I hold dear under the mistaken belief that I could be more effective inside the SABC than outside…. What is happening at the SABC is wrong and I can no longer be a part of it”.

Matthews was at least on paper the most senior official of the corporation. That he feels there is a corrosive atmosphere that he as the CEO cannot do anything about speaks volumes about corporate governance within the SABC. The SABC is an assist of the South African public as a whole and that it is being turned into a state broadcaster that only serves the interests of the ruling party is wrong.

In just the past month alone, visuals of violent incidents were banned, staff were told not to use stories that speak ill of President Jacob Zuma, and three staff members who expressed a dissenting opinion on these issues were suspended.

The apartheid regime used the SABC for the same purpose but was not able to dupe the South African public. It is the public that is short changed by this misuse of state resources and it is in the end the public that must ensure it fulfills its constitutional role as a public broadcaster.

Statement supplied