The ANC has often faced accusations that it has meddled — or worse — in the country's media, particularly the state-owned but putatively independent South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). In turn the SABC has stood accused of acquiescing to the ANC, indeed of becoming a mouthpiece for the ruling party. Today's news that the SABC is being granted exclusive filming rights of the long-anticipated December ANC conference in Polokwane will do little to assuage the accusers of the ANC and SABC. The ties between the ANC and SABC seem especially noisome to the country's privately-owned media outlets, especially the country's largest free independent broadcaster, e.tv, who feel they should also be allowed to have cameras inside the venue.
