John Perlman

John Perlman is a radio presenter for Kaya FM in South Africa, where he hosts "Today with John Perlman", a weekday programme between 6 and 7 p.m. Perlman previously co-hosted AM Live and the After 8 Debate, the flagship morning news, current affairs and talk programmes on the SAfm radio station of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

In his role at the SABC, Perlman was one of South Africa's most popular and respected radio anchors. The SABC described Perlman as a "seasoned journalist and an outstanding broadcaster" and AM Live as "arguably the most influential programme in South Africa". However, in March 2007 Perlman resigned after blowing the whistle on political censorship within the SABC. His resignation was widely thought to indicate his dissatisfaction with internal politics at the SABC.

Perlman has a BA in History, African Politics and Southern Sotho, and a BA Honours in Development Studies. He has also worked for the Weekly Mail, Saturday Star and Sunday Independent. He has also presented on television.

In 2006, Perlman caused a storm of controversy through an on-air whistle-blowing incident in which he revealed political censorship at the national broadcaster. In the live broadcast, Perlman contradicted SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago's denial that the SABC had an editorial blacklist of commentators critical of the South African government or president. He later said that this followed intensive internal discussions over 3 months with concerned SABC staffers, and that others had also taken a stand.

An internal SABC commission of inquiry was appointed, headed by Zwelakhe Sisulu and Gilbert Marcus, to investigate the allegations, and in October 2006 issued a damning report against the SABC. The report entirely vindicated Perlman's statement, finding that there was an arbitrary blacklist of commentators who SABC staff were instructed not to consult. This blacklist included prominent analysts Karima Brown, Aubrey Matshiqi, William Gumede, Paula Slier, Sipho Seepe, Moeletsi Mbeki, Elinor Sisulu, and Trevor Ncube. The commissioners sharply criticised the head of SABC News, Snuki Zikalala, for his management style, and said that there was a climate of fear in the SABC newsroom. It found that the blacklisting contradicted the SABC's mandate and recommended that new guidelines on commentators be developed through wide consultation in and outside the SABC.

...
Wikipedia