ICASA probes SABC

THE Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA’s) probe into some irregularities in the South African Broadcasting Corporation has been hailed by the country’s civil society.

Among the findings by ICASA was that particular individuals had been excluded from news and current affair programmes on grounds that were not objectively defensible and that the SABC media statement of 20 June 2006 did not accurately reflect the factual position on blacklisting.

It also noted that the draft guidelines on the use of commentators, that had not yet been adopted by the Board, were inadequate and not in line with international best practice.

“The Save Our SABC Coalition (SOS) welcomes the long awaited set down of the Freedom of Expression Institute’s (FXI) complaint against the SABC for hearing before the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) during March 2009,” SOS said.

FXI’s complaint – which was lodged with ICASA in February 2007 – was prompted by the public broadcaster’s failure to implement the Sisulu Commission’s recommendations.

The Commission was appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the SABC, Adv. Dali Mpofu, on 29 June 2006 to investigate inter alia allegations of blacklisting of political commentators in the SABC News and Current Affairs division.

SOS added, “It is in our view imperative that the public broadcaster is called upon by ICASA to explain why it contradicted itself in terms of its response to the Commission’s report by stating to Parliament that it had accepted certain recommendations of the Commission, yet in its response to FXI’s complaint to ICASA, it denied any wrongdoing on Dr Zikalala’s part.

“While blame could be placed on the previous board, the current board has a duty to clarify this matter once and for all as editorial integrity will not be restored until accountability is achieved on this matter.”—ITNewsAfrica.