The South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC) editor-in-chief, Moshoeshoe Monare, has been asked to undergo security vetting and a polygraph test by the State Security Agency (SSA) ahead of the country's upcoming May 29 general election. The move has raised concerns about press freedom and political interference in the media.

The request, made on April 18, followed a leaked audio recording of President Cyril Ramaphosa urging positive media coverage for the African National Congress (ANC) during the election campaign. Monare, also the SABC's Group Executive of News and Current Affairs, described the request as sudden and unusual, coming almost two years after his initial vetting in 2020.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and local media freedom organizations have condemned the SSA's actions, calling them intimidatory and a threat to editorial independence. They argue that the timing, just weeks before the election, suggests an attempt to influence media coverage.

While the SSA defended the vetting as standard procedure for all SABC executives due to the broadcaster's status as a national key point, critics argue that polygraph tests should only be used for severe national security threats, not routine employment processes.

This incident is not the first involving the SABC and political controversy. In 2022, Monare's predecessor, Phathiswa Magopeni, was fired following a disciplinary hearing over airing an interdicted program. Magopeni alleged political targeting, claiming she resisted pressure to conduct an unscheduled interview with Ramaphosa during the 2021 local government election campaign.

The SABC has defended its actions, stating there is nothing sinister about the vetting process. However, concerns persist among civil society groups and journalists about potential political interference in the media. Presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya has denied any targeting of Monare, stating that the president would not condone intimidation or harassment of journalists, as it goes against the constitutional protection of press freedom.

The outcome of this vetting process and its implications for press freedom in South Africa remain to be seen as the country prepares for a crucial election amidst growing discontent over issues like poverty, unemployment, and corruption.

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