The South African Broadcasting Corporation has effectively been barred by the High Court in Pretoria from enforcing its policy of not screening images of violent protests in South Africa.
The state broadcaster‚ widely condemned for its controversial editorial policy‚ was taken to court by the Helen Suzman Foundation.
The foundation and SABC reached a settlement on Wednesday.
The court order interdicted the broadcaster‚ pending a final determination of the dispute‚ from implementing a censorship decision which amounted to a refusal to cover any violent protest or demonstration.
The foundation will‚ at a later date in court‚ seek to review and set aside the censorship policy.
In the order passed on Wednesday‚ the SABC was also required to exercise its editorial discretion in accordance with the Constitution and the Broadcasting Act.
In addition‚ the SABC was interdicted from adopting a policy which would require a certain number of events not to be broadcast or reported upon.
To avoid any doubt‚ the order said‚ this included any policy which would result in partial coverage of any peaceful demonstrations‚ any violent protests or demonstrations.
The order said this would also include any events or actions‚ including violent or peaceful protest that reflect or may reflect negatively upon the president of South Africa.
The broadcaster agreed to an order that it pay the costs of the urgent application.
Meanwhile seven fired SABC journalists have approached the Constitutional Court to declare their axing “unconstitutional‚ unlawful and invalid“. They raised concern about the editorial policies at the broadcaster.
They are joined by an eighth‚ suspended SABC staffer Vuyo Mvoko‚ who had not been informed by Tuesday whether his contract had been cancelled‚ reported Business Day.
Read the full story about their battle with the corporation here: www.bdlive.co.za
Tiso Black Star Group Digital
Court rules against SABC protest 'censorship'
The state broadcaster‚ widely condemned for its controversial editorial policy‚ was taken to court by the Helen Suzman Foundation.
The foundation and SABC reached a settlement on Wednesday.
The court order interdicted the broadcaster‚ pending a final determination of the dispute‚ from implementing a censorship decision which amounted to a refusal to cover any violent protest or demonstration.
The foundation will‚ at a later date in court‚ seek to review and set aside the censorship policy.
In the order passed on Wednesday‚ the SABC was also required to exercise its editorial discretion in accordance with the Constitution and the Broadcasting Act.
In addition‚ the SABC was interdicted from adopting a policy which would require a certain number of events not to be broadcast or reported upon.
To avoid any doubt‚ the order said‚ this included any policy which would result in partial coverage of any peaceful demonstrations‚ any violent protests or demonstrations.
The order said this would also include any events or actions‚ including violent or peaceful protest that reflect or may reflect negatively upon the president of South Africa.
The broadcaster agreed to an order that it pay the costs of the urgent application.
Meanwhile seven fired SABC journalists have approached the Constitutional Court to declare their axing “unconstitutional‚ unlawful and invalid“. They raised concern about the editorial policies at the broadcaster.
They are joined by an eighth‚ suspended SABC staffer Vuyo Mvoko‚ who had not been informed by Tuesday whether his contract had been cancelled‚ reported Business Day.
Read the full story about their battle with the corporation here: www.bdlive.co.za
Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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