Icasa: SABC will abide by order
The SABC has announced it won't be challenging the ruling by Independent Communications Authority (Icasa), which ordered the public broadcaster to rescind its decision not to show the destruction of property during protests.
Icasa made the order last week. It comes after civil right organisations lodged complaints with the communications authority following changes to the SABC's editorial policy.
Icasa spokesperson Paseka Maleka says: "On Monday this week the authority reiterated its position to the SABC that what it issued was not a recommendation, but an order for the SABC to comply with. Icasa is grateful to have received a letter from the SABC through their lawyers to say they are willing to abide by the order with immediate effect."
The SABC's U-turn comes after the North Gauteng High Court issued an interdict against the SABC's ban on violent protests.
Civil society organisations have welcomed the court order.
The Helen Suzman Foundation took the matter to court arguing that the public broadcaster's policy was not in line with the Broadcasting Act, the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.
Both parties, however, agreed that the public broadcaster should exercise editorial independence in line with the constitution and its mandate.
Right2Know's Micah Reddy called the interdict a small victory.
"This is a small, but nonetheless important victory in the broader campaign to reclaim the SABC."
The SACP held a protest in Cape Town where a memorandum was again handed over to management.
Spokesperson Alex Mashilo said: "The SACP is calling on the dictators at the SABC to be held liable for the fruitless and wasteful expenditure that is bleeding the SABC and for overdosing the SABC in unreasonable court action instead of delivering quality public broadcasting uncensored."
Media Monitoring Africa's Thandi Smith says they would be keeping a close eye to ensure the SABC abides by the order.
"We call on the SABC to immediately reinstate the journalists who were dismissed. We would like to hear from the board on how they will reverse the implementation of the protest policy and how those responsible will be held accountable."