The South African Broadcasting Corporate (SABC) refuses to broadcast the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) election campaign unless it is amended.
With the election date nearing in South Africa, the John Steenhuisen-led political party released their newest campaign advert on social media.
The 30-second clip opens with an image of the South African flag burning to ashes, while a voiceover says: “In this election, for the first time in 30 years, the ANC will lose its majority. But they will do anything to stay in power.”
The voiceover ended with: “This election is all about survival.”
The SABC issued a statement stating their reasons for rejecting the advert:
“The SABC has been monitoring the outcry from South Africans of all races condemning the advertisement which is currently in circulation on various media platforms. Likewise, the SABC believes that the advertisement encourages damage of treasured national symbols. The national flag is a national symbol which represents diverse elements of the country and national unity.
“Additionally, it is expected that the national flag should be accorded with dignity and respect. Thus the flag is not a representation of a political party but the nation at large,” read the statement.
The DA leader responded to the statement:
In an unprecedented attack on our democracy, deployed ANC cadres at the SABC have banned the DA’s latest advertisement from the air to hide the truth of how the ANC has burnt our country to the ground. The DA will fight to the highest court in the land to defend our constitution. pic.twitter.com/pDdHKt7kZe
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) May 9, 2024
X (formerly Twitter) users weighed in:
#SizTheWorld @Solphenduka I completely agree with you @SizweDhlomo the #SABC is very wrong and practically hypocritical for banning the @DA ad what happened to FREEDOM OF SPEECH, they couldve easily broadcasted the ad under a disclaimer as per usual.
— Lebo G (@doodle_nemo9) May 10, 2024
With respect to the SABC withdrawing the @Our_DA advertisement, s 58 of the Electronic Communications Act states that a political ad may not contain material that, “may reasonably be anticipated to expose the [broadcaster] to legal liability”.
Without commenting on the legal… pic.twitter.com/zBTTKHpMOG
— Michael Atkins (@atkinsmike1) May 9, 2024
Also see: The Kiffness defends DA’s ‘flag burning’ campaign ad
