The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was locked in negotiations with the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) on Wednesday after the High Court in Pretoria heard that the public broadcaster has made numerous concessions.

Judge John Murphy quickly adjourned court proceedings, a couple of minutes after starting, giving a chance to the SABC and HSF attorneys to iron out the only salient point which relates to the broadcasting of images of violent protests.

HSF director Francis Antonie said the ongoing negotiations with the SABC, on sidelines would not yield a compromise on the HSF application to interdict the public broadcaster’s policy not to broadcast violent protests.

"This is a matter of principle. We can’t do that (compromise). Once we do that, we are on a slippery slope to nowhere. That I’m very clear about," Antonie told reporters after the court adjourned.

"Our central point is that the editorial policy cannot violate either the Bill of Rights, the Constitution or the Broadcasting Act. What they have been doing at the SABC is to violate the Broadcasting Act and the Constitution. The SABC is a public broadcaster, it exists because of public funds, support from the State and taxpayers."

Antonie said the SABC has become become "a party broadcaster".

"It’s in fact a party broadcaster for a faction of the party and that is unacceptable. That violates the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Broadcasting Act," said Antonie.

During the adjournment, Antonie said the parties were "negotiating how editorial independence at the SABC can proceed". The parties will return to court to update the judge on their deliberations.

The HSF brought the urgent application against the SABC, its board of directors, the Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi and SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.