EFF tells SABC it will not change ad

ECONOMIC Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema yesterday refused to change the party’s TV election campaign advertisement to suit the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) after the state broadcaster refused to flight it.

The EFF is the second party to bump heads with the SABC over the content of its election advertising campaign after the public broadcaster refused to broadcast a DA advertisement.

The advertisement underscores‚ among others‚ the public outcry at the controversial e-tolling system on Gauteng’s freeways‚ and EFF pledges to “physically remove” e-toll gantries if elected to power. Malema said the party had launched an urgent application with the Independent Communications Authorities of SA against the SABC’s decision as it was “a clear violation of freedom of expression”. It hoped for a hearing within 48 hours.

The DA also brought a complaint before the courts over its television campaign entitled “Ayisafani i-ANC [the ANC is not the same]”.

The legal matter between the SABC and the DA has been postponed and the advert was allowed to air on SABC last week.

By the Easter weekend‚ the ad had been viewed nearly 500 000 times on video-sharing website YouTube.

- Yoliswa Melaphi and Khulekani Magubane