The Broadcasting Complaints Commission handed down judgment today on complaint by televisionMajor-General Oelschig concerning a news item in April on SABC2.  The news item concerned allegations concerning the activities of a Third Force before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  During the report the camera focussed on a document which clearly displayed the name of General Oelschig. 

At a hearing on the matter at the BCCSA it emerged that the said page did not have a bearing on the so-called Third Force.  The visuals of the document were chosen at random by the cameraman and were later edited in the Johannesburg studio. 

The BCCSA held that the SABC had contravened the Broadcasting Code having broadcast the visuals of the page during an unrelated news item on the Third Force. 

The SABC was reprimanded for this error, which also caused Gen Oelschig considerable embarrassment.

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