Zuma pursues bid to stop SABC using term ‘GNU’

Leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), Jacob Zuma, has launched an application in the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, to force the SABC to stop using the terms “Government of National Unity” or “GNU” in relation to the current government under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Last month, Zuma revealed that he had asked his lawyers to write a letter of demand seeking to stop the public broadcaster referring to the Ramaphosa-led administration as a GNU.

“We have asked our lawyers to write a letter of demand to the SABC to stop deliberately misleading South Africans by using terms like GNU or GPU (Government of Provincial Unity) to refer to present sell-out coalitions.

“This is nothing but a return of apartheid and colonialism.

“There is no Government of National Unity in SA. There is a white-led unholy alliance between the DA and the ANC of Ramaphosa. It is sponsored by big business, and it’s for the benefit of the markets and not the people,” Zuma said during a media briefing in Sandton.

In the court papers, the MKP said Zuma was acting in his personal capacity as a former president of the country as well as leader of the MKP in seeking suitable remedies to stop the SABC from using this term in its broadcasts and news coverage.

It centred on: “Granting just and equitable remedies in terms of Section 172(1)(b) of the Constitution, including the immediate dissemination of this order to SABC platforms.

“Alternatively to paragraphs 3 and 4, reviewing and setting aside the decision of the first, second and/or third respondents which was made and/or communicated by means of an SABC letter dated 28 June 2024, on the grounds of Paja and/or illegality.”

Zuma said he wants the SABC, its board chairperson and its CEO, as first, second and third respondents, to show why their decision should not be reviewed or set aside.

“In terms of Rule 53(1)(b), alternatively in terms of Section 173 of the Constitution, the first, second and/or third respondents are called upon to dispatch within five days after receipt of this notice of motion, to the registrar, the record of all documents and electronic records that relate to the decision referred to in paragraph 4 above.”

The SABC recently responded to MKP’s complaint, saying the allegations were unarguable. It stressed that the letter of demand was an irregular action and without validity and that the correct processes should be followed for filing a complaint.

*Additional reporting by Kamogelo Moichela

Cape Times