Public broadcaster SABC has issued the following statement: The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, (BCCSA) has given judgment in the complaint lodged by Mail & Guardian Media Limited and Mr. Sam Sole against the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in terms of which the SABC was ordered to broadcast a summary of the judgment on the SABC3 19h00 news bulletin.
The SABC applied for leave to appeal the judgment, as provided for in the BCCSA Rules. The application for leave to appeal was declined. The SABC further petitioned for leave to appeal, once again as provided for in the BCCSA Rules. The petition was also declined and BCCSA ordered the SABC to broadcast the summary of the judgment on or before 7th June 2011.
The SABC has given notice to the BCCSA that it intends to have its decision reviewed and set aside by Icasa Complaints and Compliance Committee and has requested that the judgment be suspended pending the review. Provision for such a review is made in the Icasa Regulations.
The SABC is of the view that it is not required to broadcast the apology until its application for review has been finally determined. The Chairperson of the BCCSA has extended the implementation of the judgment to the 14th June 2011 to allow the SABC and the Mail & Guardian to address BCCSA on this issue.
