The SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) chairman Mbulayeni Maguvhe has seven days to comply with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (Icasa) ruling on Monday recommending that the SABC withdraw its decision to ban the broadcast of violent protests.
"ICASA has concurred to direct the SABC to withdraw the resolution which states that the SABC will no longer broadcast footage of destruction of public property during protests. The withdrawal must be done retrospectively from the date when the resolution was taken on May 26 2016," said Icasa acting board chairman Rubben Mohlaloga.
"The chairperson of the SABC board must confirm in writing within seven days that the Icasa resolution as endorsed by council was taken as ordered."
He said part of the authority’s mandate was to assist broadcast license holders to comply with the legal and regulatory frameworks, and that Icasa was willing to assist the SABC in that regard.
Earlier this year in May, SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng banned the broadcasting of visuals showing the destruction of state property. He said such visuals incited others to destroy government property.
The broadcast ban drew widespread criticism from civilians and political parties, who accused the SABC of censoring news ahead of the August 3 local government elections.
The matter was brought to ICASA by the Freedom of Expression Institute and SOS – the coalition supporting public broadcasting. The organisations said the ruling had a direct bearing on SABC staffers who were suspended for defying the ban.
– African News Agency (ANA)
