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SABC Orders Fired Journalist to Remove Corruption Claims
A storm inside South Africa’s public broadcaster
A senior political journalist once trusted to report on the country’s biggest power players has found himself at the centre of a scandal of his own. The SABC has issued former employee Tshepo Ikaneng with a cease and desist letter after he took to social media, accusing several leaders inside the corporation of corruption, political manipulation, and unethical interference in the newsroom.
His posts have struck a nerve in a media landscape already fraught with public mistrust and political suspicion. Many South Africans have questions about who pulls the strings in the public broadcaster. Ikaneng’s claims only fan those flames.
The official firing: accused of being drunk at work
Inside Auckland Park, his former colleagues claim the social media meltdown has less to do with exposing wrongdoing and more to do with a dismissal he refuses to accept. According to staff, Ikaneng was let go for being drunk on duty. Those familiar with his history say it was not the first time he faced misconduct related to alcohol and that he had already been demoted once because of it.
Some within SABC allege he is lashing out at the manager who held him accountable. To them, this is simply a bitter end to a long-running internal problem.
The allegations: political puppets and editorial interference
Ikaneng insists he was targeted because he wanted to expose nepotism and corruption. He claimed that the head of news and editorial, Deidre Uren, worked with the head of the Government Communication and Information System, William Baloyi, to appoint what he called a political puppet to a high-ranking SABC News role.
He suggests this was part of a broader plan to influence coverage ahead of the upcoming local government elections, shaping narratives to favour some political parties while undermining others.
The legal fight: silence your accusations
The SABC’s corporate division has acted swiftly. In a formal letter, the broadcaster demanded that Ikaneng delete his public accusations, apologise, and commit to not making further damaging claims about the organisation or its employees.
The broadcaster wants written confirmation of removal. They want public statements retracted. They want this story closed.
Ikaneng refuses to back down
Despite confirming he was dismissed for allegedly being drunk, Ikaneng says there is no evidence to support the accusation. He points to the building’s 24-hour CCTV surveillance and national key point security, arguing that video footage could settle the matter instantly. He says no such proof was submitted and that no alcohol test results were ever presented.
To him, this is not misconduct. It is retaliation.
A public spotlight on media trust
Whether Ikaneng’s allegations hold water or simply reflect a difficult exit from a high-pressure newsroom, they raise important questions about how much influence political power wields in South African journalism. At a time when the country battles misinformation, trust in public institutions is crucial.
Right now, many South Africans are choosing sides: a broadcaster trying to protect its reputation or a journalist who believes he is being silenced.
The legal battle may do more than determine one man’s future job prospects. It may reveal how stories are shaped before they reach the nation’s screens.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: The Press Council of South Africa
