DA to fight censorship of ‘Ayisafani' television commercial

The DA has received notice from the SABC that it is removing the DA's ‘Ayisafani' television commercial from the airwaves.

This is censorship pure and simple.

The reasons advanced by the SABC are spurious, and almost certainly illegal. This is a transparent attempt by the SABC to protect Jacob Zuma from any public accountability for the Nkandla scandal. 

The unavoidable conclusion is that the SABC has bowed to pressure from the ANC to remove the commercial. We know that the ANC is worried about the hugely positive response that the advert has generated. 

The DA will fight this censorship. We have already briefed our lawyers this morning, and will begin legal proceedings to overturn this decision immediately. Political advertising regulations require us to approach ICASA. We are confident ICASA will dismiss the SABC's censorship and reinstate the commercial immediately. 

Judging from feedback from voters, response on social media, and our own research, the advert is making a big impact. The commercial can be viewed below.

Statement issued by Mmusi Maimane, DA Gauteng Premier Candidate, April 11 2014

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