“However, the SABC is of the strong view that the intended publication of the contents of the report would severely harm the constitutional rights of the parties mentioned therein, before they have been given any opportunity to respond to any allegations made against them. This is patently unfair.
“The SABC, as a matter of principle, does not comment in the media on investigations and/or any disciplinary actions involving individual employees – more so when those processes have not yet yielded a conclusion one way or another and are based on mere allegations. We do not see any need to deviate from this principle; save to state that we are duty bound to defend the rights of the SABC and its employees and will do so whenever the need arises.
“The report on which these stories are based is a proceed of theft against the SABC and no person or newspaper should use it for commercial gain. Those who do so are accomplices in this theft,” concludes the statement.
