DA leader John Steenhuisen took issue with the SABC, pointing to comments made by Prime Minister Ramaphosa and his cabinet regarding the ad. (Brenton Geach/Gallo Images)
- The SABC is refusing to air the DA's controversial 'burning flag' ad unless it is amended.
- The public broadcaster said it did not want to take part in “inciting anger” and said burning the national flag was contrary to nation-building.
- Find out everything you need to know about the 2024 general election on News24. election hub.
The SABC is refusing to air the DA's controversial burning flag ad unless the party makes amends.
SABC complaints expert Nico Sibambo has written to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) informing them that the public broadcaster will no longer broadcast the ad.
“The SABC is monitoring the outcry by South Africans of all races condemning the advertisement currently being circulated on various media platforms. Similarly, the SABC is monitoring the outcry by South Africans of all races condemning the advertisement currently being circulated on various media platforms. The flag is a symbol of the nation, and furthermore, it is expected to be accorded dignity and respect, so it does not represent a political party, but the nation as a whole. “,” the letter says.
“The SABC also noted the condemnation of the advertisement by the President of the Republic and other government departments.”
The broadcaster said that as a “responsible public broadcaster” it did not want to be complicit in “stoking the anger that is evident on a variety of media platforms”.
He further added:
In the spirit of South Africa's constitutional values and principles of national unity and nation-building, desecration of the national flag is condemned.
“As a public broadcaster, the SABC has a duty to promote nation-building through its services and the above political advertisement is contrary to the spirit of nation-building.
“The SABC also pointed out that some of the words used in the ad in question were the subject of a formal complaint lodged with Icasa against the SABC. Therefore, allowing this ad to be aired would be detrimental to the SABC.”
Mr Sibabo said the SABC was encouraging the DA to revise the ad and resubmit it for broadcast.
Read | DA's burning flag ad: Ramaphosa calls treason, Gilles ready for war
Speaking at an election event in Soweto on Thursday, DA Party leader John Steenhuisen took issue with the SABC, pointing to statements made by President Ramaphosa and his ministers about the ad.
“So the ANC expatriates at the SABC are saying they are not going to show South Africa our ads because the ANC president and ANC ministers don't like our ads.
“They are banning the ad because they know it tells the truth about the ANC.”
He said lawyers for the public prosecutor's office had already received briefings to challenge the “censorship.”
In an unprecedented attack on our democracy, ANC cadres deployed to the SABC have banned the DA's latest aerial advertisement to hide the truth of how the ANC has burnt our country to the ground. The DA intends to fight in the nation's highest court to defend the Constitution. pic.twitter.com/pDdHKt7kZe
— Congressman John Steenhuisen (@jsteenhuisen) May 9, 2024
“The last time I read the Constitution, it talked about freedom of speech.”
The public prosecutor's office released the ad on Sunday, but it quickly drew condemnation from South Africans outraged by the depiction of the South African flag on fire.
The burning flag is intended to depict how “life will get even worse” if the ANC, EFF and Zuma “faction” form a coalition after the May 29 election.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement on Tuesday that the ad was desperate, inflammatory and undermined democratic principles, while Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gigi Kodwa said he was considering legal advice. Stated.
Burning the flag for political advertising is treason. The flag is a sacred symbol of national unity and existence, and burning it is despicable.
Especially organizations that engage in such acts in the name of political expediency… pic.twitter.com/QxpYy07jM4
— Cyril Ramaphosa ???? (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 7, 2024
But the DA has shown no remorse, and Mr Steenhuisen said at an election event in east London on Tuesday that the ad was aimed at getting people talking.
“I'm so happy that people are seeing this ad. It's been viewed over 3 million times, which is what we want from political ads. It’s meant to be.”
“Our economy is on fire. Our infrastructure is on fire. Our unemployment rate is on fire. Our child malnutrition rate is on fire. All of these things are holding this country back.”
Read | Helen Gill: Firestorm Flag: Are you a burner or a builder?
DA parliamentary leader Helen Gill also defended the ad, explaining why the burning flag was used.
“We chose this flag 30 years ago as the clearest symbol of the dreams we shared at the dawn of democracy under President Nelson Mandela. And we warn you that the ANC/EFF/MK/PA coalition will disappear completely,” she wrote.
“The 30 seconds ends with the flag restored to its former glory, with a call to action for all South African adults: ‘Save SA, vote for the DA!’”
Icasa rules allow broadcasters to reject advertisements for political parties or independent candidates before they are aired.
You must then notify the parties within two days and give them an opportunity to amend the ad.