SABC responds to Fani-Kayode, says it covered his meeting with Ramaphosa
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has defended its coverage of Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, following a dispute over the omission of his speech from a livestream of a diplomatic ceremony in Pretoria.
The broadcaster, in a statement on Sunday, said it had covered the presentation of letters of credence to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, insisting that its editorial coverage was separate from the South African Presidency’s livestream arrangements.
The response followed Fani-Kayode’s complaint that the South African Presidency deliberately excluded his introduction and speech from the broadcast of Friday’s ceremony at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria.
The ceremony involved 15 ambassadors presenting their letters of credence to Ramaphosa.
Fani-Kayode had alleged that the introductions and speeches of 14 other ambassadors were broadcast, while Nigeria’s segment was omitted, with the livestream resuming only after he had finished speaking.
The Nigerian envoy subsequently disclosed that he declined an interview request from SABC News in protest over what he described as the treatment of the Nigerian delegation.
Responding to the controversy, SABC said it regretted his decision to turn down the interview but remained willing to engage with him and the Nigerian High Commission.
“We regret that the High Commissioner declined an interview with SABC News, reportedly because of his dissatisfaction with the livestream of the ceremony. We respect his decision and remain open to engaging with him and the Nigerian High Commission,” the statement said.
The broadcaster also rejected the description of it as a state broadcaster, describing itself instead as a public service media organisation committed to independent journalism.
“First, the SABC is a public service media, not a state broadcaster. Our mandate is to serve the public interest through independent, impartial and credible journalism,” it said.
It added that the Presidency’s livestream arrangements and its editorial coverage were separate matters.
The broadcaster further insisted that it covered the ceremony, explaining that the event was transmitted on its SABC News LIVE channel on SABC+.
According to the statement, Fani-Kayode’s arrival was also shown during a live crossing on the SABC News Channel, DStv Channel 404.
It said it additionally published a clip on its official X account showing the Nigerian envoy speaking with Ramaphosa.
“We also published a clip on our official X account of the High Commissioner speaking to President Cyril Ramaphosa,” the broadcaster said.
The controversy began on Friday after Fani-Kayode accused South African officials of deliberately excluding Nigeria from the livestream of the diplomatic ceremony.
He said he raised the matter with Ramaphosa during a photo session after the event and claimed the South African President directed relevant officials to address the complaint.
However, Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson to Ramaphosa, disputed the envoy’s account of the President’s intervention, saying the President had directed him to the appropriate SABC official to lodge his complaint.
Magwenya also maintained that Ramaphosa had no mandate to interfere in the editorial operations of the public broadcaster.
The South African Presidency subsequently released a separate recording containing Fani-Kayode’s full speech.
The dispute has attracted attention amid longstanding diplomatic sensitivities between Nigeria and South Africa, particularly concerns over xenophobic attacks and the treatment of Nigerians living in the country.
Reaffirming its position, SABC said it remained committed to fairness, impartiality and editorial independence.
“The SABC remains committed to upholding the principles of fairness, impartiality and editorial independence in its coverage, as well as value our longstanding relationship with Nigeria,” it added.
