SA broadcaster in row over 'bias'

SABC says it is reviewing its policy on which pundits to use

South Africa's state broadcaster has denied it has a blacklist of political commentators who may not speak on air.

This comes amid a row over allegations of pro-government bias within the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

A leading political commentator told the BBC that SABC producers had told him he could not be interviewed.

Last week, the SABC clashed with documentary producers after it decided not to broadcast a critical film about President Thabo Mbeki.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago told the BBC's Newshour programme on Thursday there was no "blanket ban" on any commentators, but said the SABC was reviewing its policy on which pundits to use in its news programmes.

"We are looking at the kind of people we should be using to improve the quality of our commentary. We will then issue guidelines," he said.

But earlier on the same programme, political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi said SABC producers had told him that he would no longer be interviewed on the corporation's news programmes.

Mr Matshiqi, who has previously been a regular guest on SABC and BBC programmes, said he had on occasion criticised the government.

Challenge

On Wednesday, SABC radio presenter John Perlman challenged Mr Kganyago's assertion that there was no blacklist.

"It is happening in practice that certain people are no longer being used by the SABC," Mr Perlman said during a live interview with Mr Kganyago.

Last week, the SABC was at the centre of a separate controversy over a television documentary about President Mbeki, which the SABC commissioned and scheduled for broadcast, only to cancel the broadcast at the last minute.

SABC Chief Executive Dali Mpofu said the film did not meet editorial standards, while the producers and independent commentators say it was taken off air because it was too critical of the president.

South Africa's Freedom of Expression Institute has warned of a "growing trend of self-censorship" by the SABC.