Minister welcomes SABC's broadcast ban on violent protests
30 May 2016
Johannesburg – Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has welcomed the decision by the SABC to stop broadcasting violent protests.
The communications ministry said it respected the SABC's editorial independence and welcomed any positive action "that seeks to condemn the vandalising of infrastructure and the destruction of schools, and public infrastructure".
Muthambi said one of the SABC mandates was to prioritise nation building and the promotion of social cohesion. She said she believed the decision was taken in the spirit of social cohesion and nation building, and not censorship, as purported.
"...It is our belief that the decision by the public broadcaster not to show footage of people burning public institutions, such as schools and libraries, in any of its news bulletins, will go a long way to discourage attention-seeking anarchists," Muthambi said in a statement on Monday.