SABC1 has been slapped with a R20 000 fine. This comes after complaints were made of profane language used during the broadcast of Cassper Nyovest’s Fill Up The Dome concert in November 2017.
According to Channel24, The Broadcasting Complaints Commisson of South Africa (BCCSA) has published a judgement that shows the channel has been slapped with a R20k.
The BCCSA stated on its website that the “Material [was] broadcast before the watershed period, [and] considered harmful to children”.
“The Tribunal is thus compelled to state that the respondent failed to exercise the necessary precaution prior to the broadcast of #FillUpTheDome concert and thus contravened the provisions of the broadcasting code of conduct.”
The watershed period is the period in which it is appropriate to broadcast programming aimed towards mature or adult audiences.
According to the South African National Editors’ Forum this period is between 12:00 and 5:00. However, on 18 November 2017, Cassper Nyovest’s Fill Up The Dome DVD was aired at 8PM on SABC1.
The judgement also states that the broadcast was made without any caution of the profanity, motivating the fine further.
According to Channel24, Leon Given Rapula reported the incident to the BCCSA, as stated in the judgement, with a complaint that reads: “I comlain about SABC 1 failing to warn viewers about Language restriction on the program, and failing to clean it before braodcasting.”
“Our producuers were so passionate about showing the success of this young musicician to an extent that some regulatory mandates were bypassed.” Before apologising to Rapula, “We sincerely apologise to the complainnant for any incovenience caused and we are doing what we can to make sure that we minimise these kinds of incidents in our platforms,” – the SABC stated.
The SABC is expected to pay the fine before the 28th February 2018.