Bernadette Wicks13 August 2024 | 5:54

Zuma, MK Party in court against SABC over its use of GNU phrase

Jacob Zuma and MK want the SABC’s refusal to stop using the phrase declared unlawful and unconstitutional.

Zuma, MK Party in court against SABC over its use of GNU phrase

Former President and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma dances on stage of the party’s last rally in eMalahleni on 26 May 2024. Picture: AFP

JOHANNESBURG - Former President Jacob Zuma and the MK Party are set to square off against the SABC in the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

This over the public broadcaster’s use of the phrase "government of national unity" to describe to the seventh administration.

Zuma and MK want the SABC’s refusal to stop using the phrase declared unlawful and unconstitutional.

The case was filed on an urgent basis last month.

In the papers, Zuma and the MK Party argue that the SABC is "adopting hook, line and sinker a patently inaccurate and subjective definition of the prevailing political arrangements".

Its conduct, they say further, is in breach of its duties to be accurate, independent, accurate objective and impartial, and to inform and educate the public.

The SABC is opposing the application and has previously described the claims against it as "untenable" and the demands Zuma and MK have made for it to stop using the term GNU as tantamount to "undue political pressure" and undermining media freedom.