A week and a day ahead of the April 22 elections, the SABC has cancelled an episode of its Special Assignment programme dealing with satire and cartoon strips.

"The Special Assignment episode that was to be broadcast tonight has been cancelled under legal advice," the national broadcaster said in a statement on Tuesday.

The episode, scheduled to be broadcast on Tuesday evening, examined "the use of satire and cartoon strips as an editorial tool within the South African media landscape".

However, legal advisers had said they needed more time to study its subject matter and advise on this.

"The show will now be replaced with a rebroadcast of 'Dik Getik', which focuses on drug abuse in the Western Cape. The show was first broadcast earlier this year," the SABC said.