Johannesburg - An online petition has been launched to challenge the SABC’s decision not to show visuals of violent protests on television.
This came as #SABC trended on social media on Tuesday, with many viewers expressing their unhappiness with the public broadcaster for not showing pictures of the fiery protests in Tshwane.
Protesters said to be unhappy with the ANC's decision to impose a compromise mayoral candidate, Thoko Didiza, have burnt vehicles, including buses and other public property, and looted shops.
On Tuesday, social media was abuzz with users demanding to see visuals of the riots. Some vowed not to watch the SABC anymore.
Among them was @SiyaMiti, who tweeted: “I wonder if anyone is watching SABC news today and missing out on the biggest story currently happening #Tshwane-Unrest as I flip between eNCA and ANN7.”
Another Twitter user suggested SABC journalists should challenge the decision.
“@sibahles said: “I honestly also blame the spineless journos who work for SABC. Why can’t they protest? Am sure it’s against their journo ethics, etc.”
“Also raising his dissatisfaction was @PondozaB, who said: “Thank you eNCA for keeping us updated with what’s happening in our country, #SABC * Hlaudi are dololo #TshwaneUnrest.”
MORE #SABC TWEETS:
Ppl are in the streets, Tshwane is burning. #SABC is airing a program about cake. #Hlaudi has gone full Marie Antoinette. #TshwaneUnrest
#TshwaneUnrest #TshwaneViolence happened when #SABCcensorship in full swing I guess Hlaudi got this wrong
— Sandile Wela (@SandileWela) June 22, 2016
Last month, controversial SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng announced that SABC TV news would no longer show visuals of the destruction of property during any public protests.
A portal, awethu.amandla.mobi/, was launched challenging the SABC’s decision. By Wednesday morning, more than 4 000 people had signed up.
A message on it reads: “The SABC is our public broadcaster and has to serve our interests. This kind of self-censorship is anti-democratic and not what our people struggled for in the national democratic revolution.
“By self-censoring reporting on these protests, the SABC is denying us our right to know which municipalities are failing to deliver services to their people, and the extent to which our people are unhappy with our local government authorities.”
The Star