We don't want to encourage violence, says SABC

One of the members of the public, part of the protest, Sandile Khwela, who was speaking to Newswatch on the SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng's decision to ban protest coverage says citizens of the country cannot be exposed to half-truths when they switch on their televisions. 

The small group of protesters have stationed themselves outside of the public broadcasters offices in Central Durban today. 

Khwela says they're demanding that the decision by Motsoeneng to ban coverage of protest action in the country be reversed immediately.

"We are saying to Hlaudi - yes we know that he doesn't have a matric but at least he must try and be professional because we cannot stand watching propaganda while other things are hidden and others are exposed. 

"We are saying fair news and authentic news is what we are demanding as a country. This is not a Hlaudi republic it is the Republic of South Africa. We know he's been deployed. We cannot entertain such tendencies," he said.   

This afternoon SABC's spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, officially received a memorandum handed over by Right To Know.

"We are going to continue to cover the protests - when and as they happen. But the issue that we're dealing with is we don't want to seen to be encouraging violence or when people are destroying property. It's a stand that we have taken. We will still continue to tell people what is happening but we have just taken a stand to not be seen to be encouraging it," he said. 

KZN Coordinator, Thabane Miya of the RTK campaigns says protestors will return to the station weekly until the decision is reversed.    

(Photo: Nushera Soodyal)