The plans are intended to ensure the successful implementation of the SABC's pledge to provide coverage of the elections that is balanced, fair, accurate and relevant to audiences in the South African languages of their choice.
In addition to the special programming already carried by SABC platforms, such as the Sunday night debates on SABC2 and SAfm, the workshop finalised several new slots and programmes. On TV, a programme, broadcast Monday to Thursday at 6pm on SABC2, will provide daily updates on political developments and election preparations both nationally and provincially. The programme will start broadcasting from eight weeks before the election date.
Other special programmes include special slots on radio current affairs and special radio programmes covering town hall meetings that the SABC is organising around the country.
For election week, the plans finalised at the workshop included the presence of SABC radio and TV news at the national and all the provincial election stations, the use of the result system which enables the SABC to provide outcomes as they are confirmed.
The SABC reports that its plans were also tested against editorial policies, regulations and legislation so as to ensure full compliance with the regulatory environment.
The issue of equitable coverage of political parties received particular attention and the workshop decided that coverage levels should be determined by a combination of:
Achieving equitability will be judged on the basis of coverage on all the regional and national radio and television services of the SABC.
The workshop, attended by editors and executive producers, also afforded SABC decision makers the opportunity to engage with senior officials from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).
