The Western Cape high court on Tuesday dismissed an urgent interim application for an order enforcing uninterrupted audio and a wide-angle shot of the parliamentary chamber during disruptions.

Judge Owen Rogers delivered the order within a few minutes, announcing that interim relief would not be granted and that the application for final relief would be heard on 20 April.

Media24, Primedia Broadcasting, the South African National Editors’ Forum and others had argued that a suspension of one part of parliament’s broadcasting policy was urgent because further disruption in parliament was likely in the coming weeks.

At present, the policy gives the parliamentary broadcasting director the discretion to use occasional wide-angle shots during cases of unparliamentary behaviour.

There is no provision for such a shot during a grave disturbance and the policy does not define what such a disturbance entails. — Sapa