The SA National Editors Forum has slammed the decision by the SABC to slap a ban on the broadcast of footage showing the destruction of property during protests.
SABC chief executive, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, also appealed to other media outlets, including the printed media, to follow suit.
Sanef's Raymond Louw, said the SABC decision should be condemned. He also said the appeal to the printed media to follow suit is equally outrageous.
"It's an outrageous decision by the SABC because it constitutes censorship and preventing the public from knowing important information about what's happening in the community. And, for them to decide that they are not going to publicise that type of news is to be condemned," Louw said.
He added that he did not believe that other media outlets, particularly the print media would agree to Motoeneng's request to follow the SABC's lead.
"I think that their intention to request newspapers to do likewise is equally outrageous. I doubt whether the newspaper will abide by the request, what they will do, I think, is reject it out of hand."
Meanwhile, the DA said it’s considering its legal options in the matter.
DA spokesperson on Communications, Phumzile van Damme, said news decisions should be made by news editors and not politically-appointed management.
She said it was clear that Motsoeneng was using the revised SABC editorial policy to turn the public broadcaster into a propaganda portal for his political masters at Luthuli House.
"The policy gives total control of all the SABC's programming and news content to the SABC COO who is also a political appointee.
It is basic principle in many news organizations worldwide that editorial decisions should to be made by news editors, and not politically-appointed management, in particular, in order insulate news decisions from any commercial or political considerations," she said.
"It is clear that Mr Motsoeneng is using the Editorial Policy to deliver on the task to fully turn the SABC into a propaganda portal for his political masters at Luthuli House."
"In terms of the Broadcasting Act, as South Africa's public broadcaster, the SABC has a responsibility to provide news and public affairs programming which meets the highest standards of journalism, in a fair, impartial and unbiased manner. Censoring service delivery protests will fall foul of this requirement," Van Damme said
She said "the DA repeatedly called on Muthambi to withdraw this policy, and conduct proper public consultations. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears, and as such, we are left with no option but to consider legal action."
The SABC said it condemned the burning of public institutions and has taken a decision that it will not show footage of people burning schools and other public or private property in any of its news bulletins with immediate effect.
Chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said the decision was taken to show that violent protests were not necessary.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the letter of instruction, to this effect, has already been issued.
