JOHANNESBURG - The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) has reprimanded radio station 702 for contravening clause 13 of the Broadcasting Code.

The BCCSA was particularly damning of the role played by 702 host Eusebius McKaiser in creating "a hostile environment" on his programme focusing on former President De Klerk, which the commission considered to be a matter of public importance.

During the programme, which discussed "the controversial issue of the role of ex president FW de Klerk in the political discourse on the future of this country", the BCCSA found that McKaiser had broadcast "a clip of a speech by De Klerk in 1993, out of context" and had "demonstrated intolerance towards opposing views and made no reasonable efforts to fairly present opposing points of views."

It also found that McKaiser had granted no right to reply to "De Klerk or his spokesperson by inviting any of them to appear on a programme that was clearly intended to criticise De Klerk.

"The spokesperson’s call was cut off while he was trying to present an opposing point of view."

*see the complete judgment below

CASE NUMBER: 13/2017 – STEWARD AND MIHAL VS 702 – RIGHT TO REPLY by eNCA.com on Scribd