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Significance
The public broadcaster may appeal the ruling through the courts. Opposition parties have long bemoaned the dire state of the SABC, but recent controversial moves by Chief Operating Officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng are dividing the ANC itself.
Impacts
Social media will feature prominently in political parties' communication strategies ahead of municipal elections in August.
Motsoeneng's ban on airing footage of demonstrations will not boost ANC support in protest-wrought Pretoria, where the DA has a clear lead.
However, his requirement that 90% of music broadcast must be locally produced will stoke nationalist sentiment.
Any major shift in SABC policy -- at least in the short term -- would have to be forced on the broadcaster through court orders.
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2016
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