CASE NUMBER: 24/2005 – MCKINLEY VS SABC3 – NEWS

A complaint was received in regard to a news item on SABC news, which dealt with pre-paid water in a 1,30 minute insert. The Tribunal is of the view that the item did not make a sufficient connection between “some who disagree” and Ms Makotsoane, who was interviewed. It was not in dispute that Ms Makotsoane is against the pre-paid meter system. In fact Ms Makotsoane is an active member of the APF/PCR who has been at the forefront of resisting pre-paid water meters in her community. The item does not sufficiently show Ms Makotsane to be dissatisfied with the system. The Tribunal is of the opinion that the item accordingly gave a picture of the situation, which did not fully represent the views on the matter. The Tribunal does not believe that the SABC was not bona fide in presenting this picture. It was important to Johannesburg Water that the success of the scheme be conveyed to the public. However, the matter was not sufficiently balanced. Ms Makotsaner should have been introduced as one of the persons who disagree with the system. The Tribunal is of the view that this amounted to a contravention of clause 34.2 of the Code.