The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa will hear the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) complaint about the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) “censorship” of its adverts tomorrow morning (Tuesday).
HumanIPO reported last week the public broadcaster had removed the party’s “Ayisafani” advertisement, in which the DA claims the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is “corrupt” and “for the connected few”, prompting the opposition party to complain to ICASA.
James Selfe, DA federal chairperson, said the DA had received correspondence from ICASA requesting it make oral arguments to them at 9.30am on Tuesday April 15, though he said this was later than it should have been.
“The regulations clearly state that ICASA should decide on any complaint within 48 hours of receipt. This means ICASA should have replied to our complaint this afternoon,” he said.
“Nevertheless, the DA will accede to the request to hear the matter tomorrow morning. We have however made it clear to ICASA that we will not accept any further delay in this matter.”
He said the SABC’s decision to censor our television and radio adverts was clearly prejudicial to our election campaign and only served to benefit the ANC.
“Their decision cannot be allowed to stand,” he said.
Meanwhile, the SABC has been the cause of further public complaints by the DA, with federal chairperson Wilmot James accusing the state broadcaster of excluding the party from participating in an election debate on land reform yesterday evening.
“This is particularly concerning given that the DA is the official opposition in South Africa,” he said. “The DA has raised its concerns about a number of questionable SABC decisions which seem to be politically motivated to censor opposition parties in favour of the ANC.
“The reality is that the ANC does not want to debate the DA on this issue because they know they have failed millions of South Africans with their ineffective land restitution policy, while the DA-led Western Cape government has delivered some of the most comprehensive land reform projects.”
Shadow minister of communications Marian Shinn called upon ICASA to investigate “escalating ANC bias in SABC news coverage” as the May 7 election approaches.
“I will also write to Minister of Communications Yunus Carrim to request that he robustly exercise his responsibilities of shareholder oversight to ensure that the SABC fulfills its obligations under the Broadcasting Act and its Editorial Charter to provide broadcasting access and coverage to the diversity of views in South Africans, free from political bias or interference.”
Shinn has previously called upon SABC non-executive chairperson Ellen Tshabalala to resign over a speech she made urging people to vote for the ANC, and drawn attention to a report which said the SABC was biased towards the ANC.
