The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) says the ruling on the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) complaint against the SABC is expected on Thursday morning.
Icasa spokesperson, Paseka Maleka, says the hearing will continue at the offices of the Communications Authority in Sandton, North of Johannesburg, later on Wednesday night.
The matter was brought to Icasa’s Complaints and Compliance Committee on an urgent basis on Tuesday, following talks between the parties.
The DA laid a complaint with Icasa on Saturday after the SABC failed to broadcast its election advertisements on television and radio.
The broadcaster cited various grounds, among them that the television advert incites violence.
Maleka says the Complaints and Compliance Committee engaged with the two parties and they have decided that the hearing continues on Wednesday night because Tuesday’s consultations ended around 11pm, adding: “so it’s taking place again at 6pm.
Wednesday the parties are going to be meeting again. We expect the recommendation for Icasa to make a final decision.”
The advertisement in dispute shows DA Gauteng Premier candidate Mmusi Maimane saying the ruling party is corrupt
Meanwhile, the SABC maintains it acted responsibly by taking a DA election campaign advertisement off air. The advertisement in dispute shows DA Gauteng Premier candidate Mmusi Maimane saying the ruling party is corrupt.
The advert also makes reference to the Nkandla saga and police brutality. The SABC stated that the TV advert incited violence, that it gave false allegations about members of other political parties, amongst other reasons.
But the DA argued that the SABC’s rejection of the party’s adverts was an infringement on the freedom of expression. The public broadcaster insists it had acted responsibly.
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