SABC had agreed to a two-hour live broadcast of the congress, but allegedly reneged on the agreement.

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has threatened to take the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to court if the public broadcaster pulls out of what the party says was a firm commitment to broadcast part of its federal congress live.

The DA is set to elect a new leadership when delegates gather in Port Elizabeth this weekend.

It said it learnt this week that the SABC intended to renege on its agreement to carry a live broadcast of some of the proceedings as was done during the party's previous elective congress in 2012.

The party's James Selfe said the SABC agreed to a two-hour long live broadcast from the party's federal congress, but said that on Thursday, the public broadcaster could not be persuaded to honour that commitment.

"We certainly had live broadcast at our 2012 congress. It's inexplicable in our minds why all of a sudden the SABC finds programming difficulties to put us on air."

Selfe said the SABC was given until 6pm Thursday to reconsider or the party would go to court.

"We have briefed advocates in this respect but we really hope the SABC will listen to reason."

The SABC routinely broadcasts major African National Congress (ANC) events live, such as its 103rd birthday celebrations in Cape Town earlier this year.