Motsoeneng stands by SABC protest ban
An unapologetic Hlaudi Motsoeneng says they are not changing any decision they have made at the public broadcaster.
"We are not stopping here. If there are issues about ICASA's ruling, we are challenging that ruling so that if we need to go to the Constitutional Court that is where the matter will end.
"We are not going to change anything - people can forget. Newspapers can come together - Right2Know and everybody - we invite you to do that. We are equal to task," he said.
The SABC COO and members of the SABC board have been addressing the media in Johannesburg following Icasa's ruling that the public broadcaster's decision to ban the coverage of property being vandalised be withdrawn.
Motsoeneng says it's all a hullabaloo.
"I wan to deal with the issue of this hullabaloo, because it is still hullabaloo. When people talk about censorship, I don't know what the SABC is censoring.
"Kaiser and I explained several times to say we are not going to show certain visuals. If you talk about censorship - because you know English better because you are clever people - all newsrooms censor stories every day," he said.
He says the SABC matters shouldn't involve anyone else.
"We're not going to be influenced by people outside or internally. We will deal with the issues of the SABC as per the process and governance within the organisation. No one is going to tell us what to do within the organisation," he said.
Speaking at the same briefing, SABC board chairperson Mbulaheni Maguvhe said they would be consulting with their legal team regarding Icasa's ruling.
"If their advice is that we are going to review this matter with the relevant authorities which would include the High Court or the Constitutional Court - that is the what we are going to do because we still believe that this is a moral and a conscious decision that we have taken," he said.
Maguvhe says they're concerned about the effect that airing visuals of the destruction of property has on the youth.
"We are worried as the board and SABC - that freedom of speech and information doesn't mean that our children whose minds are not yet ready to digest these visuals and irresponsible citizens," he said.
Maguvhe has been given seven days to respond to the Icasa in writing.
(File photo)