Icasa announced it had ordered the SABC to lift its ban on broadcasting the protest visuals.
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The authority says existing regulatory frameworks do not allow the SABC to impose a blanket ban on footage of violent protests.
In May‚ Media Monitoring Africa‚ the SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition and the Freedom of Expression Institute lodged a complaint with the committee‚ challenging the validity of the SABC’s decision. We are on track.
“If their advice is that we are going to review this matter with the relevant authorities which would include the High Court or the Constitutional Court – that is the what we are going to do because we still believe that this is a moral and a conscious decision that we have taken”, he said.
Motsoeneng was speaking at an urgent press conference called on Monday afternoon at SABC offices.
They also refuted the allegation that a TV show involving President Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Gugu, was renewed by Motsoeneng despite an internal recommendation that it get canned.
“You can not say that state-owned companies can not ever do business with politicians’ families”, he said.
The SABC board chair is now required to write to Icasa in 7 days to confirm its reversal of the controversial decision.
Maguvhe said despite the ruling, they stand by their ban on visuals showing violent protests.
“We therefore request that all charges against the suspended SABC employees be withdrawn and that Hlaudi Motsoeneng be removed from his position as chief operating officer of the SABC immediately, pending an investigation”, Hermann said.
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According to Motsoeneng the “hullabaloo” about him and his policies – most recently the one on coverage of protests and the 90% local content requirement on SABC platforms – is driven by disgruntled vested interests.
