The Independent Communications Authority (Icasa) has confirmed that it’s received a complaint from the Economic Freedom Fighters after its election advertisement was rejected by the SABC.
Icasa spokesperson Paseka Maleka says the Complaints and Compliance Committee is looking into the matter.
The public broadcaster says it has pulled the advert off the air because it incites violence.
In the advert, the EFF says it will physically destroy e-tolls in Gauteng if it gains power.
Party leader Julius Malema says the SABC should allow people to judge for themselves.
“Once you suppress the people contesting elections it means you are not ready to give us free and fair elections because unfair coverage leads to unfair elections,” he told reporters in Johannesburg.
“Let people judge for themselves, Hlaudi Motsoeneng ( SABC acting chief operations officer) can’t judge for them.”
Kganyago denied claims that the SABC rejected the advert because it came from the EFF.
“It’s not true that it’s about them. We’re just being consistent with regulations,” he said.
Earlier this month, the SABC also canned a DA TV advert on similar grounds, but restored it after a hearing by the same Icasa committee ruled in its favour.
Malema has meanwhile rejected reports that the EFF may be planning a coalition government with the DA in Gauteng.
“There are no talks of coalition with anyone because EFF has only one objective in these elections and that is to win. The DA remains the custodian party of white monopoly interests and the broader super exploitative system of capitalism. It represents everything that the EFF opposes in the fundamental direction of South Africa’s economy.”
In another development, the South African Police Service has complained to Icasa about the same DA advert, which shows police aiming rifles at members of the public. – Additional reporting by SABC
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