SABC Cleared Over Blacklisting Controversy

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is off the hook following a complaint by the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) to an Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) committee over its blacklisting controversy.

ICASA’s Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) ruled it had no jurisdiction over the public broadcaster's journalistic independence and internal functions.

The CCC also found that the SABC's board at the time of the controversy in 2006, had no duty to publish an internal report on alleged journalistic malpractice.

The commission's finding came after the FXI complained that the SABC had contravened sections of the Broadcasting Act, its licensing conditions, its internal policy and its code regarding programming when it "blacklisted" certain political commentators.

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