SABC election coverage

The first debate is at 6.30pm on Sunday 27 February 2011 on SABC 1, at the university and the subsequent eleven 48-minute live shows will be broadcast on a weekly basis. The show will consist of the various political party leaders and political analysts. This will be a platform where political parties can convince South Africans to vote for them.

Service delivery focused show

In addition, SABC News will have a magazine-type programme, which will run for six weeks prior to election week, focusing on service delivery. It will be insert driven, hosted by its anchors Leanne Manas and Thabiso Sithole in the studio. Analysts will also be invited to participate in discussions on issues that are of concern to the public and lines will be open for the viewers at home to call and express their views.

Equitable coverage

In line with guidelines from ICASA, the broadcaster will provide free slots for party messages, produced by the parties and scheduled by ICASA and political advertising opportunities on radio.

It will also provide platforms for citizens, as well as political parties to relay their campaign messages on national, regional and provincial programming, on an equitable basis as prescribed in the ICASA election regulations. It will offer wide and balanced analysis of election issues by a panel of election analysts on all its services.

Election Week

This will be a 90% live show, crossing to all the regions to see all the latest with regards to elections. The show will be hosted by an anchor with some analysts as studio guests. It will provide results broadcasts, as the IEC releases the results, in a way that will inform, contextualize and explain the results for its audiences

Live results will also be available on www.sabcnews.com.