High Court grants interdict against SABC censorship
The North Gauteng High Court has granted an interdict against the SABC’s ban on broadcasting violent protests.
The Helen Suzman Foundation took the matter to court amid the decision this week to fire seven of the eight journalists who have spoken out against the revised editorial policy.
The foundation has also stopped the broadcaster from adopting any policy which would be contrary to its mandate pending a judicial review of the policy.
Without submitting any argument the SABC's legal team informed judge John Murphy that the public broadcaster concedes to the interdict .
Both parties agreed that the public broadcaster could exercise its independence but that it needs to abide by the constitution, the bill of rights and the broadcasting act.
"Obviously, the SABC must have some editorial independence. This in terms of its own broadcasting act but it cannot censor the news," he said.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago says their legal team will now interpret the order.
"Like I have said before - we have never said we are not going to broadcast violent protests. It is something that was created by people. Let us not get into the matter at this particular stage because because our lawyers will then interpret it further for us," he said.