Questionable advertising in South Africa

01-08-2011

Vuyiswa Dlamini

The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa has an Advertising Code stating that all advertisements must be honest, must not make misleading claims and, where claims are made, provide prior substantiation.

The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASA) has an Advertising Code that regulates advertising in the country. Generally, the code states that all advertisements must be honest, must not make misleading claims and, where claims are made, provide prior substantiation.

The Advertising Standards Committee (ASC) recently dealt with a matter where E.TV aired a programme for Christ Embassy Church Healing School. The programme told the story of a sickly 17-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease and went through a prayer session with Pastor Chris, who apparently cured her of the disease.

The ASC agreed that the programme was essentially an advertisement, since it ‘appeals for’ and/or ‘promotes’ joining the Healing School, and held that a complainant member of the public (or a competitor) has the right to require substantiation of the claims.


South Africa, ASA, advertising code, E.TV, healing school

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