POLITICS

We've been banned from the SABC - EFF

Fighters say television division being manipulated by puppets of a certain political party

Statement on the banning of EFF by the public broadcaster

19 March 2014

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) can now officially confirm that all its activities and programmes have been banned by the South African Broadcasting Commission (SABC), the Public Broadcaster, which has a legal, moral and constitutional obligation to provide quality, fair and balanced broadcasting to all South Africans.

The SABC Television division is being manipulated by Puppets of certain political parties to completely ban anything that has to do with EFF on Television. On the 17th of March 2014, the EFF held a Press Conference to announce our lists to Parliament, and we have it in good authority that the SABC Crew that was supposed to cover the Press Conference was physically prevented from using the SABC Cameras.

On Tuesday, the 18th of March 2014, the EFF Commander in Chief Julius Malema did a pre-recorded interview with SABC's Channel 404 in a television show called Question Time, anchored by Mpho Tsedu. During the interview, a staff member of the SABC went to both the interviewer and interviewee to say that there is an instruction to stop the interview before it could finish, and made a commitment that such a commitment will not be carried out.

The anchor of the TV Show which CiC Julius Malema pre-recorded sent an official communication which reads as follows: "Afternoon Julius. Thank you for making time this morning to talk to me on Question Time. The interview was scheduled to go on air today at 17:30 as I had mentioned to you. However, that won't be the case. I want to apologize for the inconvenience I have caused as a result of this "no-show" today. Mpho".

The official text message from the SABC confirms that indeed the Public Broadcaster, which as per ICASA regulations and SA Broadcasting Act carries an obligation to broadcast fairly about all South Africans and all political parties, particularly on the eve of elections. As things stand, the SABC has completely banned the EFF and has also issued an official communication that the EFF will not be represented in any of the weekly elections debates hosted by Vuyo Mvoko in SABC Television and Radio.

What is happening here is a clear abuse of power by the SABC Puppets, who are fearful of the EFF and the struggle for economic. We thought that South Africa is a free country, where all political parties are given an equal, free and fair platform to canvass for votes before every elections. It looks like we were wrong, because those with administrate power are abusing public institutions to suppress the EFF, which is a force to be reckoned with.

The EFF will write to the Independent Communications Association of South Africa (ICASA), the Minister of Communications and the Board of the SABC Board to demand the immediate unbanning of the EFF particularly on SABC Television. We will do so because the SABC is not a private station of any individual or political party, but a public broadcaster which should fairly, freely and equitably broadcast to all South Africans.

The millions of EFF supporters and voters are not denied television broadcasts of its leadership because some individuals in the SABC fear the EFF.

If ICASA, Communications Minister and SABC Board do not lift the television broadcasts ban on the EFF, we will approach Courts to compel them to do so because it is the right of all TV Licence and Tax paying South Africans to receive fair and balanced broadcasts.

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, March 19 2014

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