SABC3 rejects AfriForum ad, says it reflects negatively on the ANC

SABC3 has rejected a video that civil rights group AfriForum wanted to air on the channel as a paid advertisement, citing that the video casts the ANC in a negative light.

AfriForum have consequently turned to their YouTube channel and the social media to oppose the censorship of the advertisement by SABC3. The organisation will also urge its members to share the video on social media networks. In their reply to AfriForum, SABC3 claimed that the video was too negative towards the ANC and that they were prohibited from screening material that casts any political party in a bad light. The existence of such a policy could not be verified.

The video, entitled ANC, the conmen, deals with the ANC's rumoured plans to make fundamental changes to the Constitution in order to initiate a "second transitional phase" in South Africa by means of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). Indications are that the right to private land ownership (section 25 of the Constitution), in particular, will be scrapped or drastically amended in order to give effect to an "aggressive" programme of land expropriation. According to the ANC's policy documents, the NDR must be implemented by means of state power.

The video contains various excerpts from recent ANC policy documents and appeals to South Africans to sign a petition. The video and petition were created to raise public awareness of the contents of the ANC's policy documents.

According to Ernst Roets, Deputy Chief Executive of AfriForum, they are disappointed with SABC3's decision, but they will continue their awareness campaign on the consequences of the NDR.

The video can be viewed on AfriForum's social media pages and here.

Statement issued by Ernst Roets, Deputy Chief Executive: AfriForum, June 4 2012

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