𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗡𝗴𝗼𝗯𝗲𝘀𝗲-𝗭𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗖𝗖𝗦𝗔 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗔𝗳𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma is challenging a Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) ruling against SAfm over comments she made during a June interview.
Ngobese-Zuma appeared on The National Pulse on 3 June as a right of reply after GroundUp deputy editor Daniel Steyn disputed claims previously made by her movement about foreign nationals.
During the interview, she claimed that foreign nationals were responsible for 60% of serious crime in Gauteng, that foreign military bases were being established in South Africa, that explosives were being smuggled into the country and that foreign nationals were paying police to avoid prosecution. She also alleged that foreign-funded NGOs and NPOs were using money to buy weapons.
The BCCSA found that the claims were presented as factual allegations without sufficient evidence, verification or challenge from presenter Ashraf Garda. Commissioner Advocate Ben Winks found that SAfm had contravened Clause 12(2) of the Free-to-Air Code on the statements.
The SABC accepted the ruling and apologised, with SAfm ordered to broadcast a summary of the findings and the apology during the same programme time slot. The broadcaster also said it would strengthen editorial safeguards for high-risk current affairs programmes.
Ngobese-Zuma has rejected the finding. She said her lawyers have submitted evidence to the BCCSA in support of the claims she made during the interview and that she is awaiting a response.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) welcomed the BCCSA ruling, saying broadcasters remain responsible for interrogating and verifying serious factual allegations made during live interviews.
The BCCSA has not publicly responded to Ngobese-Zuma’s latest submissions.