On 18 July, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), issued a statement announcing that it is still engaging the Compliance and Complaints Committee (CCC) of ICASA over its recommendations and whether these recommendations have been properly endorsed by the ICASA Council, as it is a requirement by law. Recommendations by the CCC were made regarding the SABC’s editorial decision not to broadcast the destruction of property during protests.
The statement says that on 12 July and again on 14 July 2016, the SABC addressed letters to the CCC of ICASA, requesting amongst other things, confirmation that the ICASA Council considered their recommendations as contained in the CCC’s judgment. On 15 July, in response to this request, the SABC was furnished with a copy of a press statement that was released by the acting chairperson of ICASA, dated 11 July 2016, which according to the SABC did not address the request made to the CCC.
On 18 July, the SABC addressed another letter to ICASA requesting the information that was previously requested and further clarifying to the CCC of ICASA, the basis upon which the SABC is of the view that there is no standing judgment. According to the statement, the judgment was not communicated to the chairperson of the SABC, as undertaken in the CCC’s recommendations. “Once the organisation has received all the documents requested, the SABC shall review the order accordingly,” the statement continues.
“The SABC would like to reiterate that it respects ICASA and remains committed to working with ICASA in resolving this matter.”
