The SABC and it’s brash COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng moet ligloop.
Icasa has warned that the South African Broadcasting Corporation could‚ in an “extreme” case‚ see its licence revoked.
This was according to the Independent Communication Authority of SA’s Rubben Mohlaloga when questioned by 702’s John Robbie about SABC chief operations officer Motsoeneng’s reaction to its ruling against the broadcaster.
Motsoeneng had on Monday said “no one will tell us what to do” after Icasa ordered the SABC to reverse its ban on airing the destruction of property during protests.
Mohlaloga told 702 yesterday that various sanctions - from a caution to a fine‚ and‚ in extreme cases‚ a licence being “suspended or revoked” - were available to Icasa should there be a lack of compliance with its rulings.
He said the SABC had seven days to comply or indicate that it would take the ruling on legal review.
The SABC’s Kaizer Kganyago later yesterday told the radio station that the SABC would indeed be taking the decision to the courts‚ echoing Motsoeneng’s vow on Monday to approach the High Court or the Constitutional Court for relief.
“We are challenging that ruling … we are equal to the task‚” said the COO.
Motsoeneng said all media censored news; the fact that “no good news” was published showed that there was censorship.
Eight senior journalists at the public broadcaster are facing disciplinary action for questioning Motsoeneng’s decision.