The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has slapped some international TV crews camping outside the Pretoria hospital where the world's media is on "Madiba Watch" of the ailing Nelson Mandela with non-compliance warnings after several were found to have brought unauthorised broadcasting equipment into South Africa.
According to law, anyone bringing broadcasting equipment into South Africa, has to obtain prior approval to do so from South Africa's broadcasting regulator, in order to prevent undue interference on frequencies used by local South African licenced broadcasting services.
Some of the TV outfits setting up crews outside the Pretoria hospital littered with satellite vans, roving reporters and eager international TV correspondents keeping the world up to date with breathless titbits and live links of the health of Nelson Mandela and hospital visitors, are using equipment which could interfere with local broadcast frequencies.
Yesterday Icasa, accompanied by the South African Police Service, did an unannounced inspection and issued non-compliance warnings after spot checks at the hospital.
