The Broadcaster failed to attain broadcast permission from the Matatiele and Mount Fletcher Chiefs before producing the female initiation documentary, thus infringing on the Basothos’ constitutional rights to human dignity, equality and freedom as per section 7 (1) of the Bill of Rights. Including those set out in section 7 (2) which state that; ‘the [...]

Explicit sexual content broadcast on Broken Society Show. CLICK TO VIEW FULL JUDGMENT  

A complaint was lodged with the BCCSA by King Edward High School against the SABC for a broadcast dated 2 July 2019 at 21:30 on SABC1. The broadcast was a programme called Cutting Edge. Cutting Edge is an investigative programme that depicts prevailing and current affairs in South Africa. The episode in contention was titled [...]

The Complainant, a well known public figure and a head Pastor of Allelluia Ministries, posted a YouTube video where he ‘suspiciously’ resurrected a man from the coffin. This so-called miracle attracted global controversy over dubious religious practices. SABC 2 took interest in the matter and made an investigative documentary, offering the Complainant reasonable opportunity to [...]

Material broadcast before the watershed period, considered harmful to children. It is the duty of the BCCSA Tribunal to protect children within the broadcasting environment and accordingly takes the latter duty with utmost high regard. With that duty in mind, the Tribunal is thus compelled to state that the respondent failed to exercise the necessary [...]

Material considered to be harmful to children.  The complainants allege that Generation – The Legacy has aired episodes with scenes featuring sex and nudity. CLICK TO VIEW FULL ADJUDICATION  

A complaint about the broadcast of an episode of the soapie "Generations" was received.  The broadcast contained scenes of a sangoma performing rituals, including bloodletting and the draping of the mythological snake called mamlambo around the character Tshidi's neck. The scenes would be distressful for children. A viewer advisory of PG13 was broadcast on-screen.  It [...]

The question which arose in this appeal was whether the Adjudicator was justified, within the ambit of the Broadcasting Code, in finding that words uttered by a sport commentator did not amount to hate speech. The Tribunal found that the finding by the adjudicator that there had not been a contravention of the Code was [...]

A film which should have been classified as 16LV broadcast with a PG13L. Contravention conceded by the SABC. R15 000 fine imposed. Guidelines as to the use of PG 12 and 13 discussed. [2014] JOL 32976 (BCCSA) CLICK TO VIEW FULL JUDGMENT 

A complaint was received regarding the correctness of a news item broadcast by the SABC. The invasion of privacy of the Complainant’s wife was at the core of the complaint – and together with that, the absence of truth in relation to her possible involvement in a crime. The identity of the wife of the [...]