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SABC 'blacklist' case starts
24/07/2007 20:47 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The SABC will be asked to explain its blacklisting of political commentators and analysts last year to an Independent Communications Authority of SA hearing on Wednesday.
The Freedom of Expression Institute has complained that the blacklisting constituted a violation of the SABC's licence conditions, the Broadcasting Act and the Constitution.
SABC management set up a commission - under former SABC head Zwelakhe Sisulu and advocate Gilbert Marcus SC - last year after complaints about a ruling, allegedly by news head Snuki Zikalala, that certain commentators and analysts not be used because they were critical of President Thabo Mbeki.
The inquiry found that the SABC had indeed blacklisted certain commentators and analysts, albeit not officially.
They apparently included AM Live anchor John Perlman, who has since resigned; independent political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi; the author of a book on Mbeki, William Gumede; and Business Day staff members Vukani Mde and Karima Brown.
The blacklistings came shortly after the SABC "canned" an independently made documentary about Mbeki, and was criticised for this by the Congress of SA Trade Unions, the Democratic Alliance and other opposition parties.
In response to the commission's findings, the SABC Board instructed SABC group executive Dali Mpofu to take "whatever steps he deems necessary".
The SABC had applied for a postponement of Wednesday's hearing, but had not yet had an answer on this, spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said on Tuesday.
It would defend the complaint no matter when it was heard, he said.
Icasa said on Tuesday that the hearing was going ahead as scheduled.
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