Saturday, November 19, 2011

BREAKING. Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) part of the public protest action against the SABC coming on 24 November at 13:00.


The Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) has joined and is taking part in the massive public protest action directed at the SABC and planned for this coming Thursday 24 November at 13:00.

South Africa's TV industry is planning a massive public protest directed at South Africa's public broadcaster set to take place this coming Thursday at 13:00 at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters in Henley Avenue as well as at the visitors' centre of parliament in Cape Town.

The WGSA, the trade body representing writers in the TV, film, radio and theatre industry in South Africa, is adding their voice to the picketing action and has called on WGSA members to join the public protest. South Africa's TV industry is demanding the immediate removal of dr Ben Ngubane, the SABC chairperson, wants more local TV content, and more strategic and accountable leadership at South Africa's public broadcaster plagued by management instability.

''The WGSA is supporting this call and call all writers and friends of the filming industry in South Africa to stand with us on Thursday 24 November at 13:00 at the picket line,'' says the WGSA. ''Please support this cause of action.''

A similar public protest took place in 2009 at the SABC when South Africa's exasperated TV industry and struggling local TV production sector demanded immediate intervention at the SABC.

The SABC didn't respond to media enquiries made this week about the industry's demand that dr Ben Ngubane step down, or the planned public protest action.