OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Friday 4.30pm.
THE much-debated Broadcasting Bill was bulldozed through Parliament on Friday with a small concession made in that several amendments put forward by opposition parties were preserved.
The National Party, Democratic Party, Freedom Front and Inkatha Freedom Party all voted against a motion of desirability on the bill, signalling strong and wide disapproval. The Bill, which seeks to enact a new national broadcasting policy, was passed over their objections, although some of their key amendments were retained.
Among the important amendments passed was a resolution to protect the independence of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, and guarantee it enjoys “journalistic creativity and programming independence” in fulfilling its brief.
Another amendment directs the SABC’s board to protect those rights, stipulating “fair and unbiased” coverage of news events, and presentations of public affairs programmes. Cross-ownership of media outlets was also limited in response to opposition pressures, and accounts for SABC’s public and commercial services will be published separately for greater transparency.
The opposition parties failed to prevent policy making and regulatory power being vested in the broadcasting minister rather than the Independent Broadcasting Authority.