Democratic Alliance leaders expressed regret on Friday at communications authorities for granting the SABC more time to respond to complaints of the live coverage of a rally of the ruling African National Congress last weekend.
”Justice delayed is justice denied, because the IFP’s [Inkatha Freedom Party’s] election campaign launch and rally takes place this Sunday in Durban,” said DA MP Dene Smuts in a statement.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) initially said the SABC should respond to the charges on Friday, but extended the deadline to Monday at the request of the SABC.
”The SABC’s request for more time to defend itself against the opposition’s complaint of bias to Icasa is unforgivable and compounds the problem,” Smuts said.
She said equitability demands ”that the IFP receives live coverage following the ANC extravaganza on SABC2 last Sunday — it need not stretch to an hour-and-a-half again, but it should be given”.
”The SABC have doubtless had confirmation from lawyers that they have a statutory duty of impartiality and equity even outside election times.
”No doubt they will spend the weekend feverishly trying to find a way out: there is none.
”The SABC cannot be President [Thabo] Mbeki’s broadcaster. To suggest, as SABC spokesperson Paul Setsetse did in a debate with me on Kaya FM this past week, that the rest of the media practises ‘Mbeki-bashing’ and that the SABC must compensate for it is outrageous,” said Smuts.
Icasa said earlier this week that the SABC has a ”case to answer” after it broadcast live the launch of an election manifesto of the ANC in Durban on Sunday.
The SABC was initially supposed to have submitted its response by Friday, but Icasa responded favourably when the SABC asked for more time. The new deadline is Monday.
The SABC requested that the deadline be extended until Wednesday. Icasa partly acceded to the request because of the urgency of the matter.
Asked whether the SABC would adhere to the new deadline, Setsetse declined to give a yes or no answer.
”We will see how far we have gone by Monday and take it from there,” he said.
Three opposition political parties this week lodged a complaint with Icasa over a broadcast on Sunday of what they said was the launch of the ANC’s election manifesto.
The DA, IFP and United Democratic Movement said the broadcast was clearly an electioneering opportunity for the ruling party, and not a presidential address as was earlier claimed by the SABC. — Sapa