DA to seek interdict if SABC does not air second advert

The Democratic Alliance will seek an urgent high court interdict if the SABC does not flight its second television advert, party leader Helen Zille said on Wednesday (30/04/2014).

The advert was supposed to be aired on Wednesday morning, but was not.

"The next slot for the advert is tonight at 9pm on SABC2. The proof that it was banned is because it did not air on the slot this morning."

She said the DA was consulting its lawyers and would file an urgent application on Thursday morning if the advert was not flighted at its allocated time on Wednesday night.

The public broadcaster had sent the party a letter on Wednesday informing it that the second advert would not be aired due to two sentences in the advert - "they tried to stop us" and "this is what they did not want you to see or know".

The SABC argued that the statements were false.

Zille said SABC acting chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng had called her around noon to say the ad would be aired in its night-time slot.

"We have verbal confirmation, but nothing in writing... Till then we will continue with our court application and steps to seek an urgent court interdict."

Earlier in as statement the party said: "This is political censorship, plain and simple."

The SABC was not immediately available for comment.

The DA's first election advert was pulled by the SABC after it was flighted on April 8 and 9. The public broadcaster said it incited violence.

On Friday, a complaint by the SA Police Service regarding the first advert that contains a photo of a police officer shooting rubber bullets was upheld by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa).

Zille and Maimane launched the second advert in Mamelodi, outside Pretoria on Monday.

At the time Zille said "Ayisafani 2: The DA is bigger, stronger, and ready to win!" would air on television every day from Tuesday until Sunday.

The 45 second advert, which is on YouTube, starts with Maimane in front of a mirror, getting dressed in a grey suit and white shirt saying: "So, they tried to silence us, but this is actually what they're afraid of", before opening double doors and segueing into the rest of the advert.

It focused on job creation and the growth of the DA. - Sapa