Split on SABC election coverage

2006-01-25 08:05

Cape Town - Two opposition parties have given a cautious thumbs-up to the public broadcaster's coverage of their March 1 municipal election campaigns so far but the official opposition has cried foul.

The Independent Democrats believe the party has been treated "very fairly" by the SABC so far.

"We cannot complain at this stage, in terms of fairness and objectiveness," spokesperson Jim Freeman said on Tuesday.

The Freedom Front Plus said the jury was still out on the SABC's commitment to equitable coverage.

The party had received coverage for the launches of its candidates lists and manifesto, but "I am worried that we will find it difficult going forward, though," said leader Pieter Mulder.

Clear rules

He said there was a lack of communication between the public broadcaster and political parties on the rules of the election coverage game.

"We also want clear rules on the distinction between government information and ANC propaganda over this period," Mulder said.

"The government must not be allowed to misuse taxpayers' money for ANC electioneering disguised as public information."

However, the DA protested on Tuesday that no mention was made on SABC 3's 19:00 bulletin on Monday of a press conference held by its leader Tony Leon in Cape Town earlier in the day.

"The DA has now held five election events in a row and SABC TV has refused to provide coverage for any of them on SABC 3," national campaign spokesman Douglas Gibson said.

"It has now been nine days since the DA's last election message was carried by the national broadcaster on SABC 3."

The DA's complaints of muzzling by the SABC were rejected.

"Why would we do that? We don't have anything against them at all," SABC spokesperson Lesego Mncwango said.

Decisions based on newsworthiness

"We recognise them as an essential part of our democratic system. Far be it from the SABC to try and silence them."

Mncwango said the SABC was committed to giving all political parties "equitable coverage", based on available manpower and cameras, and the news value of political party events.

"Our decisions are still based on newsworthiness, as at any other time."

But Gibson said Leon's press conference "was deemed newsworthy enough for e.tv to cover on its 19:00 bulletin". The event was also mentioned on several radio news bulletins and in the print media.

"The DA represents some two million voters and yet SABC TV continues to try and prevent the DA's election message from reaching them and the rest of the South African electorate," he said.

Gibson accused the broadcaster of failing in its duty to enlighten the public on political party campaigns, allowing them to compare and make an informed choice.

Mncwango said the SABC was committed to equity, fairness and objectivity.

Equitable news coverage did not amount to equal coverage for all parties, she added.

She could not say what underpinned the decision not to mention Leon's press conference on Monday's bulletin.

- SAPA