A complaint was received about a broadcast of promotional material which contained several scenes of violence. The broadcast took place at 06:30 on 16 July 2008 during a children's programme. Clause 21 of the Broadcasting Code provides that "[p]romotional material and music videos which contain scenes of violence, sexually explicit conduct and/or offensive language intended [...]

On the 15th October from 18:30–19:30 the SABC, the public broadcaster, conducted a forty-five minute live interview with Mr Zuma, the President of the African National Congress (ANC), the governing party. Complaints from the Inkatha Freedom Party and NADECO (both political parties), as well as from two members of the public were received by the [...]

A complaint was received against the broadcaster whose presenter in a programme on soccer asked viewers to identify a soccer star.  One of the clues to identify the soccer star, as stated by the presenter on the television programme, was that the star as a young boy “lost his virginity to a goat”.  The Tribunal [...]

A viewer filed a complaint with the Registrar in regard to the broadcast of a film, “Land of Weeping” which deals with racial injustices of the past. Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution. Of course, when material which is broadcast incites to harm in terms of clause 16.3 of the Code, then the [...]

The Registrar received a complaint as to the use of crude language and a song with the lyrics “fuck the police”. The SABC responded that the programme was broadcast an hour past the watershed and carried an appropriate age restriction of 16L. It therefore did not believe that there had been any contravention of the [...]

The Registrar received a compliant about a promotion clip concerning a television programme on SABC TV1. The Tribunal watched this promo a few times. It is definitely rather graphic in its depiction of scenes of violence, but we ultimately came to the conclusion that the scenes followed each other in such quick succession, that they [...]

Broadcast alleged to be against Christian morality and bordering on hate speech – held that journalist within her constitutional right of freedom of religion, opinion and belief to make a comment on the alternative religious belief known as wicca. [2005] JOL 22858 (BCTSA) CLICK TO VIEW FULL JUDGMENT  

Freedom of expression – freedom of artistic creativity – bizarre dance routine, dancer flagrantly flaunting, and mouthing a condom to studio audience and viewers.  Tribunal found that although conduct unacceptable and offensive to the moral sensibilities of certain viewers, conduct falling with the protection accorded by Section 16 of the Constitution of the Republic of [...]

Complaint regarding the broadcast of a circumcision ceremony, wherein the initiate is ritually circumcised, contended that it was irregular, unethical and flouting  Nguni custom to depict images revealing and exposing a sacred secret custom.  Held: - that although deeply held traditional cultural values and opinions may have been offended, such opprobrium could not justify the [...]

The Phat Joe show on the 24th of April 2004 at about 10pm included an insert which clearly related to the Mel Gibson film The Passion of the Christ.  An actor dressed up as Jesus was place in the position of an actor with a crown of thorns getting phone calls and performing a miracle. [...]