This broadcast black out is holding South Africans in pit bottom regard!!!

Opinion

By Fanzo Skhova

10/06/2016
I admit I failed to learn to stop making sound assumptions.

This time I made another rational assumption that a big enterprise like the SABC is run by adult persons of exceptional talent and calibre. The likes that would be heard conferring self-praise to the extent of likening themselves to Jesus Christ.
This assumption evaporated before me upon learning that the SABC management fashioned a decision to “black out” coverage of acts of arson and vandalism during civil disobedience otherwise known to many as “service delivery protests”. In the sharp minds of the wise men of Auckland Park, protesting communities are auditioning for a movie titled “SABC News”. For that, they are determined to cut short the aspirations of these wannabe news movie superstars. Never before had I imagined that people at such levels can be deserted by critical thinking and logic.
It is hurting to realise that some people hold South Africans in such a pit bottom regard. They, by such conduct, suggest that communities plan and execute arson or vandalism exclusively to gain the attention of television news cameras. “Like really now?!” – That is how snobbish people would exclaim. Accordingly, communities never had a case in the first place but embark on the uncivil acts to achieve five minutes of fame. It is indeed a sorry thought. One that is not only shameful but a reverse insult by the glorious broadcaster on its own capability to observe objective reality.
Most of us condemn and refrain from barbaric actions. We do so not because we believe these deliver embarrassment on the doorsteps of a black and democratic government. We do because these are improper and border on self-destruction and loss. I pray that the number of people who think poor communities “violently” protest to appear on television sets that some of them do not even possess is as many as the SABC management. For, if majority of us limit our analysis of local government challenges to a mere perceived desire to quench an insatiable thirst for filming cameras, we will permanently miss the chance to understand the plight of the poor. We will not spur on ourselves to roll up our sleeves and deliver services for our people because we view their actions as nothing more than attention seeking stunts.
If indeed we insist that the improper actions of community protesters are not an ounce wise, the “disciplinary” action to black out these visuals is none the wiser. Let me present an example or two to test the science of logic, or is it to test the critical thinking capacity these wise ones?
Assuming we agree that viewers model their behaviour, actions and abilities around the visuals they interact with on the national broadcaster’s screens; allow me to declare we have just discovered a solution to raise the standard of soccer in our land. All we need to do is to broadcast more of La Liga or similar top class league matches for our players to emulate the best. Imagine a Bafana team in which seven infield players of a starting eleven could emulate Messi or Ronaldo. Shouldn’t we also stop broadcasting boxing to prevent a situation wherein people start boxing each other all around the country because they aspire to appear on television?
Let me leave you and go find my pipe………

Schova

The views expressed in this article are not necessarily of Moretele Times.