Communications Minister Faith Muthambi on Thursday dismissed concerns that “censorship” is being implemented at the SABC.

She said the SABC informed and educated people compared to the mainstream media‚ which she accused of “feeding propaganda” to the public by writing negatively about the government.

“We cannot allow a situation where the public is misled.”

Last month‚ the SABC banned the reading of newspaper headlines or discussion of front pages on air. COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng said the SABC would no longer give free publicity to newspapers – a decision Muthambi praised.

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“I like the decision taken by the SABC‚ it’s one of the state owned companies I am proud of‚” she said at a discussion on the importance of community media.

Muthambi said there had been “a debate” on censorship at the SABC. “I don’t know what you mean by censorship‚” she said.

There has been a public outcry about recent editorial decisions at the public broadcaster‚ including a ban of footage of violent protests showing the destruction of public property.

The Independent Communications Authority of SA ordered that SABC lift the ban‚ but it refused‚ backing down only when the Helen Suzman Foundation took it to the High Court in Pretoria. This was made an order of the court.

On Wednesday‚ the SABC said it was reinstating seven journalists who had earlier in the day been blocked from returning to work following an order by the Labour Court that their dismissals – for questioning the public broadcaster’s editorial policy — were unlawful.

Muthambi brushed off criticism that she had been quiet in the wake of the controversy.

- TMG Digital