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SABC refuses to air EFF advert, party complains

SABC refuses to air EFF advert, party complains

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has refused to air an advertisement by opposition political party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that urges followers to inflict damage upon e-tolling infrastructure.

HumanIPO reported earlier this month another opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, (DA) had regarding the withdrawal of DA political advertisements by the SABC, with the adverts in question subsequently able to resume.

The EFF advert, which highlights police brutality and the controversy surrounding President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla residence, also urges to supporters to “Destroy e-tolls physically”.

“The SABC took the decision to withdraw the ad amongst other reasons, as there is a clear incitement to violence in the ad,” SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago told HumanIPO.

He said the statement in the advertisement promotes criminal activity and is not permitted in terms on the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA) regulations, and the regulator had been informed.

The EFF responded by saying the SABC was acting illegally.

“The SABC wrongly and illegally banned this advert because of the EFF’s decisive position shown in the advert that in an instance when it takes government it will physically destroy the undemocratically imposed eTolls on Gauteng motorists and commuters,” the EFF said.

The party said it has lodged a complaint with ICASA.

“The banning of this advert is a clear indication of the ruling party’s refusal for eTolls to be on the agenda of these elections,” the EFF said.

“SABC, which reports to Luthuli house, has acted in the interests of their wishes to suppress the fact that the ruling party imposed eTolls on South Africans. Nonetheless, we reiterate without any fear of contradiction that we shall physically destroy eTolls to allow South Africans to use their roads without paying any additional money to the tax they already give to government.”

The party said the advert needed to be aired in order for the public to make an informed decision at election time.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

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