Johannesburg – Wednesday, 26 February 2025 – On Monday, 24 February 2025, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) hosted the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies (PCCDT) as part of its oversight visit. The engagement provided an opportunity for SABC to outline key strategic objectives and ongoing challenges affecting the public broadcaster’s long-term sustainability.

The central focus of the discussions was SABC’s ongoing strategic renewal (recovery), which is driven by its five-year corporate strategy to position the organisation as a financially stable, self-sufficient, and future-ready public broadcaster. Since its implementation in April 2024, this strategy has been geared towards strengthening the SABC’s commercial viability, shaping the regulatory environment, and accelerating its digital transformation in response to evolving audience and technological trends.

The SABC also reiterated its concerns regarding the urgent need to finalise key policy and legislative matters, particularly the SABC Bill and the review of the public broadcasting funding model. While the Corporation has actively contributed to policy development, including submissions on the SABC Bill, the delayed implementation of legislative reforms remains a critical risk to the SABC’s financial viability. The broadcaster urged policymakers to prioritise these matters to ensure a sustainable and modernised public broadcasting sector.

Regarding the Analogue Switch-Off (ASO), SABC reaffirmed its commitment to the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting and that it continues to support the government’s digital migration programme. However, it emphasised that the process must be managed in a way that does not marginalise audiences who still rely on analogue transmission. A poorly executed migration risks compromising the SABC’s revenue base and its ability to fulfil its public mandate of universal access.

Despite an increasingly challenging operating environment, SABC has made significant progress in stabilising its financial position, improving governance, and strengthening leadership. Notably, it has reduced financial losses, achieved an unqualified audit opinion, ensured uninterrupted broadcasting services, and successfully delivered on major national events, including the 2024 National General Elections.

SABC Board Chairperson, Khathutshelo Ramukumba, emphasised the importance of urgency in resolving these matters, stating:

“The SABC plays a vital role in informing, educating, and entertaining South Africans, yet it continues to operate under a funding model that is not fit for purpose in today’s media landscape. We appreciate the Portfolio Committee’s engagement and its recognition of the need for urgent policy reforms. The SABC remains committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure we build a resilient and financially stable public broadcaster that serves all South Africans.”

The SABC Board and management express their sincere appreciation to the Portfolio Committee for its constructive engagement and commitment to addressing key issues affecting the Corporation. The broadcaster remains hopeful that, through continued collaboration, decisive policy interventions will be expedited to secure the long-term sustainability of the public broadcaster.

Ends.

Issued By:                              Group Communications

Media Enquiries:                   Mmoni Ngubane (Head of Communications)

NgubaneMV@sabc.co.za      T. 011 714 3057| C. 073 688 1590