The SABC has pulled the plug on the second season of its popular
news
programme The Big Debate.
The first episode of the new season of
the town hall debate show, set
to run for the next 10 weeks, would have aired
at 9.30pm tonight.
The series of debates on issues ranging from health to
education, land
reform to racism were to have taken place across the
country.
News of the decision not to flight tonight’s episode – one of
three
already recorded by the show’s team – broke on Twitter this
afternoon
after host Siki Mgabadeli tweeted that the show had been
canned.
“Today was supposed to have been the debut of season
2
of#TheBigDebate, unfortunately we’ve been pulled off the air. We
don’t
know why:-(. I cannot express how angry I am. #TheBigDebate is off
the
air,’’ she tweeted.
Mgabadeli later tweeted that it seemed the
decision to stop the show
“came from the very top of the SABC … No
explanation was given.’’
The episodes which were to have been recorded
this weekend would have
dealt with youth, and water and
sanitation.
Yesterday, the show posted on its Facebook page: “Does any
political
party in SA appeal to ‘born frees’? This Sat, Big Debate invites
200
youth to engage our leaders. What should they ask?”
SABC
spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago was unable to comment immediately,
but undertook
to respond to written questions from City Press.
