SAFM apologises after BCCSA ruling on Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma interview
SAFM has apologised after the BCCSA upheld a complaint over Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma’s interview, finding that serious claims about foreign nationals were not clearly presented as opinion or challenged.
The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) has ruled that radio station SAFM breached broadcasting standards during an interview with Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of the March and March organization. The interview, which aired on June 3, featured Ngobese-Zuma making serious claims about foreign nationals and their alleged involvement in crime, corruption, and security issues in South Africa.
Ngobese-Zuma stated that 60% of serious crimes in Gauteng were committed by foreign nationals, and that foreign-funded organizations were using money to purchase weapons and explosives. She further asserted that foreign military bases were operating within the country, and that foreign nationals were avoiding prosecution through bribery of police officers.
Social justice activist Christopher Rutledge lodged a complaint, arguing that SAFM had violated the broadcasting code by failing to properly present Ngobese-Zuma's statements as opinions and by not challenging the factual accuracy of her claims. BCCSA commissioner Ben Winks upheld the complaint, finding that SAFM had failed to clearly label Ngobese-Zuma's statements as opinions or to verify the accuracy of her claims during the interview.
The ruling highlights the broadcaster's responsibility to interrogate the factual basis of statements presented to their audience, especially in the context of a global pandemic of disinformation and as South Africa approaches elections. SAFM has publicly apologized for the breaches and pledged to strengthen editorial safeguards during high-risk current affairs discussions.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
