Icasa tells SABC to revoke ban
JOBURG – Icasa has ordered the SABC to revoke its ban on broadcasting violent protests and destruction of public property .
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has directed the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to withdraw its decision to no longer broadcast footage of destruction of public property during protests.
The much-anticipated decision on the matter between the SABC and civil society organisations like Media Monitoring Africa was made by Icasa’s acting chairperson Rubben Mohlaloga on 11 July. According to Mohlaloga, the Complaints and Compliance Committee handled the complaint and a public hearing between all parties was held on 24 June.
He said the complainants questioned whether the public broadcaster has overstepped its powers and licence condition.
“It was argued that the policy of the SABC on this matter, which includes a resolution, is not only in conflict with the duties of the SABC in terms of the Broadcasting Act and its licence, but also with the constitutional principle of freedom of expression and freedom to receive information or ideas,” he said.
“It was further argued that the SABC was actually taking South Africa back to deplorable apartheid bans on news and comment, whether by the then SABC, apartheid laws or regulations”.
The SABC’s legal representatives, however, argued that common sense dictates that where television cameras are present, protesters would run amok, and attack public institutions, set them alight or destroy them, Mohlaloga said.
“They further argued that from the perspective of the protection of children against scenes of violence on television and the protection of SABC journalists against violence in such situations, the decision of the SABC made sense,” he added.
The acting chairperson further explained what the SABC’s obligations are, which included fair and unbiased coverage, impartiality, balance and independence from government, commercial and and other interests.
“This obligation is also contained in the licence conditions of the SABC,” he said.
The SABC now has seven days to respond to Icasa’s decision, but COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng in an urgent media briefing this afternoon, said the SABC is challenging the ruling, “even if we have to go to the Constitutional Court”.
“We are not stopping here,” he said.
The SABC Board chairperson Prof Mbulaheni Maguvhe said he was not surprised when he heard about the Icasa ruling.
“The [ruling] will be taken on review, but we will not retract on our decision. We will take it up with the relevant authorities including the High Court and Constitutional Court,” he said.
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