Johannesburg - One minute at a time, maximum.
That’s the rule for the free party election broadcasts on radio and television in the run-up to the local government elections.
Forget about long-winded politicians or the ongoing fight at the SABC involving chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng and his views on what should and should not be aired, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has issued the brief rule on party election broadcasts (PEBs).
“PEBs must be broadcast from Tuesday, July 12 to Sunday, July 31. Each radio station (and) television services transmitting PEBs will have eight PEB slots every day of one-minute duration,” said the Icasa notice issued on Friday.
The slots for both radio and TV run from 6am to 8am, then 9am to 11am, and 12pm to 2pm. Radio runs further slots from 3pm to 5pm, while TV viewers are up later with slots from 6pm to 10pm.
These are for all SABC radio and TV stations as well as a specified list of community and commercial stations. The law defines a PEB as a “direct address or message broadcast free of charge, calculated to advance the interests of any particular political party”.
Parties may not broad-cast political messages or adverts except during election periods, and must stop 48 hours before the polling. The broadcasters must treat all parties equitably in these slots.
Monday’s 18 slots include three for the ANC, three for the DA and two for the UDM. Tuesday's slots start with the Independent Sport Party on SAfm, include the Promise of Freedom on SAfm, and the South African Maintenance and Estate Beneficiaries Association, the Operation Khanyisa Movement on Radio 2000, then end the day with the EFF, Minorities of South Africa and the ANC on Radio Sonder Grense.
Icasa’s 156-page list of which party gets a free minute on which date on which station is online on the Icasa website at www.icasa.org.za. The rules were issued by Icasa councillor Nomvuyiso Batyi, in terms of the Electronic Communications Act.
The Star