The Helen Suzman Foundation wants a legal ruling against the SABC’s policy and practice to not cover protest action‚ particularly violent demonstrations‚ which it sees as an infringement of the public’s right to be informed.
The organisation said on Monday it had launched an urgent application against the SABC‚ its board of directors‚ its chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi.
“The HSF seeks wide-ranging relief.”
This included suspending the implementation of the SABC’s policy not to cover violent protests and preventing the SABC from adopting or implementing any censorship policy.
The organisation said as the public broadcaster‚ the SABC was obliged to comprehensively cover events of national and public importance‚ including political protests and news which might portray the presidency or any political party in a negative light.
“It is impermissible for the SABC to distort or refuse to cover important news‚ as a result of political partisanship or otherwise. Very worryingly‚ it appears that this censorship is politically motivated‚” the organisation said.
The SABC denied last week that there was revolt within the organisation following the resignation of Acting SABC CEO Jimi Matthews.
His resignation follows the suspension of economics editor Thandeka Gqubule‚ executive editor at Radio Sonder Grense Foeta Krige‚ and senior journalist Suna Venter two weeks ago.
They were suspended week for defying Motsoeneng’s orders not to cover an anti-censorship march at its offices in Auckland Park.
The Helen Suzman Foundation said it believed in an open and democratic society‚ which included the protection of the rights to freedom of expression‚ a free press‚ and the ability‚ freely‚ to receive information.
“Censorship‚ by the public broadcaster no less‚ strikes at the very heart of these rights‚ and undermines and erodes our constitutional democracy.”
'Tell SABC it must cover important news'
The organisation said on Monday it had launched an urgent application against the SABC‚ its board of directors‚ its chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi.
“The HSF seeks wide-ranging relief.”
This included suspending the implementation of the SABC’s policy not to cover violent protests and preventing the SABC from adopting or implementing any censorship policy.
The organisation said as the public broadcaster‚ the SABC was obliged to comprehensively cover events of national and public importance‚ including political protests and news which might portray the presidency or any political party in a negative light.
“It is impermissible for the SABC to distort or refuse to cover important news‚ as a result of political partisanship or otherwise. Very worryingly‚ it appears that this censorship is politically motivated‚” the organisation said.
The SABC denied last week that there was revolt within the organisation following the resignation of Acting SABC CEO Jimi Matthews.
His resignation follows the suspension of economics editor Thandeka Gqubule‚ executive editor at Radio Sonder Grense Foeta Krige‚ and senior journalist Suna Venter two weeks ago.
They were suspended week for defying Motsoeneng’s orders not to cover an anti-censorship march at its offices in Auckland Park.
The Helen Suzman Foundation said it believed in an open and democratic society‚ which included the protection of the rights to freedom of expression‚ a free press‚ and the ability‚ freely‚ to receive information.
“Censorship‚ by the public broadcaster no less‚ strikes at the very heart of these rights‚ and undermines and erodes our constitutional democracy.”
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