Icasa won't release blacklisting record

The Independent Communications Authority’s Complaints Compliance
Committee yesterday dismissed an application by the Freedom of
Expression Institute to have the record of proceedings of the SABC
Sisulu Commission — which investigated the blacklisting claims — made
public, writes Borrie la Grange in The Times.

The Institute’s Simon Delaney said: “We are disappointed at the decision, which effectively denies the right of all South Africans to an explanation by the SABC as to what it has done to address the concerns of blacklisting and other abuses exposed by the commission.”

In October last year the commission found that the SABC had blacklisted certain political commentators and analysts, although not “officially”.

The inquiry followed after complaints that SABC head of news Snuki Zikalala had apparently decreed that “commentators” who were critical of President Thabo Mbeki were not to have their views aired on the broadcaster’s news and current affairs programmes.

Click here to read the full report, posted on sundaytimes.co.za.