ICASA approves Complaints and Compliance Committee's recommendation

The Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) have accepted the recommendation of the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) against the SABC relating to the amendment of its editorial policies without public consultation. The matter was lodged by the SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition and Media Monitoring Africa, which issued their complaint on 3 October 2016.

The CCC held public hearings on 9 December where both parties presented their arguments before the committee. These included whether or not the editorial policies should have first been published by the board of the SABC for public comments.

ICASA has, therefore, in consideration of the CCC recommendation, issued an order to the SABC board, which stipulates that the 2016 amendments to its editorial policies were invalid in terms of the Broadcasting Act 1999. The 2004 SABC editorial policies, accordingly, remain valid.