No one will tell the SABC what to do, says Hlaudi Motsoeneng after ruling

THE SABC has dug in its heels, saying it will challenge the decision by the Independent Communication Authority of SA (Icasa) compelling the broadcaster to reverse its ban on airing destruction of property during protests.

The SABC said it would approach the highest court in the land if necessary.

Chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said "no one will tell us what to do", and described the reaction to its protests ban as "hullabaloo".

He was speaking at a media briefing in Auckland Park on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Icasa ordered the SABC to withdraw its editorial decision, giving it five days to comply and institute the order "retrospectively".

But Motsoeneng said all newsrooms censored news in taking daily publishing decisions.

The fact that no good news was published showed that there was censorship in all news organisations, he said.

The SABC will approach the High Court or the Constitutional Court to take the Icasa decision up on review. "We are challenging that ruling … we are equal to the task," Motsoeneng said.

In May, Media Monitoring Africa, the SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition and the Freedom of Expression Institute lodged a complaint with Icasa’s complaints and compliance committee, challenging the validity of the SABC’s protests ban.

In the aftermath of the ban, a number of senior journalists at the broadcaster are facing disciplinary action for questioning the decision.

The media briefing was disturbed by a protester who shouted, "away with Hlaudi" and "history will judge you". He was subsequently removed by security.

By Natasha Marrian/BDlive