SABC refuses to air DA election ads
The SABC once again refuses to air the DA’s election advertisements, the party said on Sunday.
The SABC informed the DA that it has no available slots for political advertisements at this time due to delays in the IEC’s work with respect to the elections.
“This is nothing but a poor excuse by the SABC in order to censor the DA’s political advertisement as has become standard during election time,” DA spokesperson Phumzile van Damme said.
“The DA and indeed all political parties are well within their rights to air party political advertisements at this time as the election date has been proclaimed.”
In terms of Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) municipal election regulations, political parities are allowed to broadcast political advertisements during the “election period”.
The election period is defined in the regulations as “the period commencing with the date on which the election day is proclaimed…”.
The election was proclaimed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Des van Rooyen, on 23 May 2016 meaning that, in terms of the law, South Africa is in election period and political parties are allowed to have their political advertisements broadcast.
The commencement of the election period and the right of political parties to air their advertisments has been acknowledged by all other television and radio stations, the party said.
“The SABC is the only broadcaster that refuses to air the DA’s adverts,” said van Damme.
Van Damme said the DA will be lodging a formal complaint with ICASA to stave off the SABC’s attempt to abuse its power by attempting to censor the DA and protect the ANC from criticism.
The DA’s first election advert
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