DA ‘not given fair deal’ in broadcast about land reform
The DA maintains the SABC did not afford it the “superior” opportunity it gave the ANC to air its views on land reform‚ despite the former’s message reaching more than half a million more viewers than those of the ruling party.
This transpired during arguments presented to the tribunal of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa on Wednesday.
SABC group executive for news and current affairs Phathiswa Magopeni said Ramaphosa’s broadcast had an average of 27‚000 viewers while the response from the DA‚ which was simulcast on Morning Live and channel 404‚ averaged 527‚000 and 66‚200 viewers respectively.
The DA lodged a grievance against the SABC with the commission. It complained that the public broadcaster had infringed on the commission’s code of conduct when it aired a pre-recorded statement by ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa, without affording DA leader Mmusi Maimane a similar opportunity.
In the video‚ Ramaphosa announced the ANC’s decision to push for an amendment of the constitution in support of land expropriation without compensation.
The SABC later refused to air a message from Maimane on land expropriation‚ a decision which the DA said displayed a lack of independence from political interference.
Representing the DA‚ advocate Nick Ferreira argued that the right of reply afforded to the DA‚ where Maimane’s spokesperson‚ Portia Adams‚ articulated its position on land expropriation‚ did not amount to fair opportunity.
“Ramaphosa had [an] opportunity to present his case‚ in a prepared‚ polished‚ professional manner in six minutes and 45 seconds. The SABC refused to broadcast the equivalent from the DA,” he said.
Nyiko Shibambo of the SABC said viewers had been given a balanced view of opposing points, from Kallie Kriel of Afriforum‚ political analyst Angelo Flick and Bulelwa Mabasa‚ a land claims expert, after Ramaphosa’s address.
“The DA gave their reaction to the president’s address. Adams was not interjected. nobody from the SABC restricted her in terms of time‚” he said.
The DA has asked that the commission reprimand the SABC, give the DA the same opportunity it gave the ANC and that it air the ruling.
Tribunal chair Henning Viljoen said the commission would give its judgment within two or three weeks.