 Zikalala blacklisted various independent commentators from appearing on national television,
 and was harshly criticized by an independent commission for doing so.Zikalala stated in an address given at Stellenbosch University that "The SABC is not the mouthpiece of the government of the day, nor should it broadcast its opinion of government policies, unless they relate directly to broadcasting matters".In the same address he accused Rupert Murdoch's media company of having "an unashamedly neo-liberal agenda".