Death knell for the SABC

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies chairperson, Khusela Diko, warned the SABC is at serious risk.

Diko’s statement followed Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, withdrawing the South African Broadcasting (SABC) Bill from Parliament.

Malatsi told the Sunday Times the bill “does not address the cash-strapped broadcaster’s funding model while giving one politician too much control over board appointments”.

He added that the bill deferred the finalisation of the SABC’s new funding model by three years from its date of passage.

Diko responded to the news by saying she had noted Malatsi’s decision “with grave concern” and that it would be highly ill-advised.

“It is no exaggeration to say it would sound the death knell for the South African Broadcasting Corporation,” she said.

“The challenges facing the SABC require a considered and urgent response, not trigger-happy action, which serves no purpose but to frustrate and disrupt processes already underway.”

She argued that withdrawing the bill at this stage would delay the implementation of crucial reforms necessary to save yet another crucial and strategic public institution.

Diko explained that the SABC Bill was initiated by the government in 2018 and introduced to Parliament in October 2023. It seeks to:

Provide for the continued existence of the SABC.

Provide for the SABC governance.

Amend the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Act and the Electronic Communications Act (ECA).

Diko said that the committee has fast-tracked the process to finalise the SABC Bill, the absence of which has created a severe legislative vacuum that has dire consequences.

She said that the public broadcaster could not be allowed to fail because its demise would spell unmitigated disaster also for Sentech, the country’s signal distributor.

This could have a ripple effect on over 130 community radio stations, several private broadcasters, including commercial radio and TV stations, and ICT service providers.

“The most affected stakeholders would be communities across the country, which rely on public broadcasters to provide them with news and public information,” she said.

“It is undisputed that SABC is the only broadcaster with the capacity, reach and ability to deliver on this important mandate.”