Cape Town - The Law Society of South Africa and Black Lawyers Association have urged the SABC to overturn its editorial decision not to broadcast footage depicting the destruction of public property.
The SABC had on Monday been given seven days to respond to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (Icasa) directive that it overturns the controversial editorial decision taken two months ago.
The broadcaster had responded, saying its legal team was studying the ruling.
The law society’s co-chairmen Mvuso Notyesi and Jan van Rensburg said: “Like the Office of the Public Protector, Icasa is a Chapter 9 institution, and as such, its orders must be implemented unless a court of law finds otherwise”
The law society said if the SABC did not implement the order within the stipulated seven days, Icasa would be within its rights to suspend the national broadcaster’s licence. Although protests in which property was being destroyed were illegal, the public ought to be informed “so that it could be part of an open society where good and bad is broadcast and informed choices may be made by the public”, they added.
The association said it condemned public violence at all costs, “but we find the absolute censorship of covering violent scenes by SABC as both depriving of information to the South African public and therefore unconstitutional”.
“South Africans deserve to be truthfully informed of developments in their country, both positive and negative.”
The association also appealed to the SABC to lift the suspensions meted out to the journalists suspended for being opposed to the censorship.
SABC board chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe was this week quoted as saying he was not surprised by Icasa’s ruling.
“I still believe that we were right and I maintain we were right.
“We never imposed a blanket ban on visuals, because if it was a blanket ban you would not see anything... it is a veiled ban,” he said.
Maguvhe said the SABC would engage with its legal team: “If their advice says we should take this further for review with the relevant authorities such as the high court and the Constitutional Court, we will do so.”
Cape Argus