PARTIES NOT ALLOWED TO BROADCAST CAMPAIGN MESSAGES, ADVERTS

JOHANNESBURG Aug 24 Sapa

Political parties will not be allowed to broadcast election
campaign messages and advertisements on radio stations, the
Independent Broadcasting Authority said on Thursday.

The IBA said in a statement that no party political
advertisements or election broadcasts for the forthcoming local
government elections were catered for within existing laws.

In terms of the IBA Act, local government elections fell within
the definition of an election, the IBA said.

This meant that no broadcaster could air a party election
broadcast or political advertisement before or during the
elections.

The IBA said it would therefore monitor the situation.

Its monitoring and complaints department would also monitor
broadcasts to ensure fair play in terms of news presentation and
the right of reply.

The IBA defined a party election broadcast as a direct message
broadcast free of charge that contained a message to further the
interests of any political party.

A party political advertisment was a paid for message intended
to advance the interests of a party.