Legal Articles and Guides
News24 cleared over Akkerland report
News24 has won an appeal against a decision by the Press Ombud that its reporting setting out that Akkerland Boerdery was not expropriated without compensation but sold for R80m, had violated the Press Code.
ARB rejects ‘naughty’ golf shirt complaint
Cartoon-based sexually suggestive golf-themed shirts, advertised online and depicting tongue-in-cheek images of stick figures in sexual positions and, in some cases, male genitalia, recently came under the spotlight of the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB), reports IoL.
Billboard banned for objectifying women
The Advertising Regulatory Board has ordered adult-entertainment chain Teazers to take down a controversial billboard in Rivonia, Johannesburg, ruling that the campaign was concerning and promoted objectifying.
MTN lambasted over ‘free-to-use’ router
The Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) has ordered MTN SA to either remove or amend its ‘free-to-use’ router advertising, after it has emerged that it is not actually free.
Media group joins ConCourt challenge to gag order
The three ‘whistle-blowers’ who were recently gagged by solar panel company ARTsolar from making ‘defamatory allegations’ that it was importing rather than locally manufacturing its solar panels, have challenged the order on constitutional grounds.
DStv sanctioned over 'misleading' promo ad
MultiChoice's DStv has been sanctioned by the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) and ordered to amend or withdraw one of its advertisements following a complaint from a consumer.
News24 rebuked for McKenzie 'gravy train' headline
The headline last year titled ‘Send me! McKenzie’s gravy train to Paris Olympics cost taxpayers R800 000,’ published by News24 a few months after Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie’s trip to the games, was misleading and in breach of the Press Code, the Deputy Press Ombud found, says GroundUp.
Legal storm brewing over StarSat shutdown
Pay-TV operator StarSat has said it is exploring its legal options after Icasa raided its offices and disconnected services.
StarSat prepared to fight to keep broadcasting
Satellite operator StarSat is prepared to return to court to prevent its platform being shut down after a directive by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa).
SABC proposes household levy to replace licences
The SABC is pushing for a major overhaul of its funding model, proposing to replace the TV licence system with a household levy and additional funding from the state to deal with the broadcaster’s financial crisis.
Publications ordered to apologise for abusive column
The Press Ombudsman has found that the publication by The Sunday Independent newspaper and IOL of an abusive opinion piece has caused ‘severe harm’ to the personal and professional reputation of News24 journalist Karyn Maughan, and that the publications should apologise and remove the piece.
Growing concerns over misinformation and fake news
SA news consumers are increasingly concerned about misinformation and the spreading of fake news, a new report on digital media trends shows.
Sactwu case against Sekunjalo dismissed with costs
The case brought by the SA Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu) against Sekunjalo and Independent Media has been dismissed by Western Cape High Court Judge Michelle O’Sullivan, says a report in The Star.
MultiChoice off the hook over ‘racially sensitive’ ad
The Advertising Regulatory Board said MultiChoice did nothing wrong in its advert promoting its streaming service, DStv Stream.
Court dismisses attempt to gag Mail & Guardian
The Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) has struck an application for a prior restraint of publication order against the Mail & Guardian off the urgent roll.
