The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) will on Friday hold a public hearing about the South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC's) decision not to broadcast footage of violent protests.

The public broadcaster had until Wednesday to explain its decision to censor its news to Icasa.

Opposition parties and media groups have criticised SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng's decision, which he announced last month. He argued that showing footage of the destruction of public property would encourage such actions.

While television broadcasters eNCA and ANN7 had extensive coverage of the violent protests in Pretoria that started on Monday, it barely got a mention on SABC.