SABC ban on protest coverage illegal‚ ICASA finds

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has ruled that the SABC has to rescind its ban on showing protest footage and communicate that it has done so within the next seven days.

ICASA found that the decision to ban violent protests was in breach of the SABC’s licensing conditions and the Broadcasting Act.

SOS Coalition National Coordinator Sekoetlane Phamodi says the coalition has been “vindicated” by the ruling.

However‚ he was “sceptical” that SABC would comply with the ruling as it has ignored court orders in the past.

Thandi Smith from Media Monitoring Africa said it was “hopeful” that the SABC would comply and it was willing to take the matter to court if it didn’t.

In May‚ Media Monitoring Organisation of South Africa and SOS Coalition complained to ICASA that the decision was a clear violation of the Broadcasting Act and illegal ‚ and violated the SABC’s licence conditions and its revised editorial policies.

The SABC also suspended three employees who questioned this decision and started disciplinary procedures against four others. The fallout also led to the public broadcaster’s acting CEO‚ Jimi Mathews‚ resigning‚ saying on a television show with Eusebius McKaiser that the SABC would be better off without COO Hlaudi Motoseneng. .

If the SABC does not want to comply. it needs to approach the high court to appeal the regulator’s decision.

Tiso Black Star Group Digital/The Times