Judge Willem Van Der Linde has dismissed the African Content Movement’s (ACM) case against the SABC with costs. The ACM had brought an urgent application in the High Court in Johannesburg, to compel the SABC to broadcast its manifesto live in Durban on Saturday.
— Michael Markovitz (@mmarkovitz) April 6, 2019
The editorial policy of the SABC cannot be impugned – Judge Van der Linde. ACM’s application to force the SABC to broadcast its manifesto live is DISMISSED with costs. #SABCNews #PublicNewsService
— Phathiswa Magopeni (@PhathiswaPM) April 6, 2019
The party earlier said that it will only launch its 2019 election manifesto after the High Court in Johannesburg has heard its case against the public broadcaster.
The party, led by former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, has demanded that the launch be covered live on SABC 2 as well as the SABC News Channel 404 on DStv.
The Curries Fountain Sports Development Centre ground is relatively empty pending the outcome of the African Content Movement’s High Court action again the SABC. The ACM’s manifesto launch was meant to start at 12-noon #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/NZxP94zK8h
— Ronesh Dhawraj (@ronesh) April 6, 2019
Through their legal representative, Advocate Macgregor Kufa, the ACM said they have the right to express themselves.
They say the SABC plans to cover their election manifesto launch as a news story, but they feel some elements of their manifesto might be excluded or even manipulated after the story is edited.
The party says because it is a new party, the public has to watch live visuals so they can make an informed decision when going to the polls in May this year.
READ: the full court affidavits…
ACM Founding Affidavit Urgent Application (05 April 2019) (Text)
AFM vs SABC Answering Affidavit (Text)