Complaint that a single broadcast of an incident where Christians were massacred by unknown assailants at prayer in a church in Pakistan not accorded equal time and importance by the SABC in comparison to an analogous incident whereat Afghanistan civilians were bombed by an American missile. Argued that such distinction and emphasis accorded to the Afghanistan bombing incident amounted to partiality, unfairness, and bias by the SABC in the broadcast of the two incidents.
Held that since the SABC had editorial independence regarding context and emphasis, and prioritisation and the absence of externally proven malice and dishonesty attributable to SABC’s conduct regarding the exercise of the freedom of expression and editorial independence, it was a misconception to accuse the SABC of unfairness, bias and partiality. Complaint dismissed.