The ANC used SABC TV for propaganda purposes during its 99th Anniversary celebrations in Polokwane, the Freedom Front Plus said on Saturday.

It was more important than ever for the ANC and SABC to distinguish between government announcements and news, and blatant propaganda, party leader Pieter Mulder said in a statement.

"The way the anniversary was broadcast live, made a mockery of every democratic rule," he said.

In the past the SABC had agreed to only televise speeches by the president when it involved government matters.

During the celebrations in Polokwane Jacob Zuma had called up members of the ANC and given out awards for a number of achievements, Mulder said.

"The president called party members up as if they were trophy winners, this is the complete opposite [to government matters].

"The ANC is just as guilty of abuse as SABC TV is in the matter," he said

Mulder said the FF Plus was celebrating its "birthday" in March and the party was going to write a letter to the SABC asking it to broadcast it live.

He said if the national broadcaster was going to televise the ANC's celebrations it had to do it for other parties as well.

"If what the SABC did today was a preview of this year's [2011] media coverage then it is going to be a difficult year for opposition parties," Mulder said.