A complaint was received from viewers in regard to the “disclaimer” which introduced the “Pure Monate Show”, The 
complaint was that the disclaimer included the word “f-all” in stead of stating that it did not necessarily agree with what was broadcast. The broadcast took place at 22:00 and was not accompanied by the reading of the words. The Constitutional Court has held that freedom of speech includes the right to publish offensive material. Of course, this right must constantly be balanced against other Constitutional rights, such as the protection of children, dignity, privacy and the right of the public to be informed correctly as to matters pertaining to news or fairly in regard to comment on matters of public importance. In the present instance the Tribunal believes that the other rights were not placed at risk at 22:00 and that the basic right to even publish offensive material, was not transgressed by the SABC. We accept the response and reasoning of the SABC that it was not intended to offend, but that the words should be read in context with the programme, which is irreverent and comical. In the result the complaint is dismissed.
