Icasa probes cancellation of radio show
2012-12-06 22:11
Johannesburg - The last-minute cancellation of a MetroFM
discussion on the ANC's upcoming national conference will be investigated, the
Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) said on Thursday.
"The authority has requested the SABC to provide
facts related to this incident," Icasa said in a statement.
"[This is] with the purpose of determining whether
the incident referred to constitutes a violation of its licence terms and
conditions as well as the SABC editorial policy.
"The authority will apply its mind to determine its
next course of action."
The broadcaster was given until Tuesday to respond.
Comment from SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago could not
immediately be obtained.
Three political journalists were scheduled to appear on
MetroFM's "Talk with Sakina", presented by Sakina Kamwendo, on
Tuesday to discuss media coverage of the conference in Mangaung.
The talk was cancelled at the last minute.
Sunday Times political editor S'thembiso Msomi, Business
Day political editor Sam Mkokeli and Financial Times Southern African bureau
chief Andrew England were reportedly already at the SABC studios when the
interview was cancelled.
SABC group radio executive Leslie Ntloko said on
Wednesday that management had received the list of guests for the cancelled
segment late.
When management learnt the ANC was not participating, the
plug was pulled.
He said the ANC needed to be a part of the discussion.
"We looked at [the briefing] and asked whether there
was fairness and balance. We took the decision because there was no
fairness," Ntloko said.
He cited SABC rules that when an issue involved an event
of national importance, and a political party, that party had to be invited to
participate.
- SAPA
