Cosatu’s Sizwe Pamla says it’s not the SABC’s mandate to gag itself from exposing people’s anger. (SABC)

Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) has joined those criticising an SABC decision not to air footage of people destroying public property during protests.

The federation says whilst it condemns violent protests and wants vandals prosecuted, it does not want the sanitation of news to hide reality.

Cosatu’s Sizwe Pamla says it’s not the SABC’s mandate to gag itself from exposing people’s anger.   

“We are calling on the SABC Board to reconsider this decision and allow the public broadcaster to tell the South African story uncensored. This decision is patronising. South Africans are not that impressionable that they need to be protected from any barbaric visuals. What we’re saying is that the board has to really think hard about this decision and reconsider it because it’s not in the interest of the country at all.”

On the other hand, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi on Monday threw her weight behind a decision by the public broadcaster to place a ban on airing footage of violent protests. 

“We unequivocally condemn the destruction of public and private infrastructure. It is our belief that the decision by the public broadcaster not to show footage of people burning public institutions, such as schools and libraries, in any of its news bulletins, will go a long way to discourage attention-seeking anarchists,” Muthambi said in a statement.

She added the department respected the editorial independence of the public broadcaster and described the ban as positive because the SABC had a mandate to ensure “nation building and the promotion of social cohesion”.
Source: SABC – additional reporting by ANA