Johannesburg – Sunday, 13 October 2019 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the South African Football Association (SAFA) are pleased to announce that they have reached a four (4) year agreement on the broadcast rights of SAFA matches and events.

Johannesburg, Wednesday, 09 October 2019 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce consistent and significant audience share growth of SABC News on different platforms in the first two quarters of the current financial year.

The SABC News’ Independent and Impartial brand pledge has been very well received by audiences through the multiplatform coverage of news of national importance.

Johannesburg – Wednesday, 02 October 2019 – The Board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Mr Ian Plaatjies as the Corporation’s new Chief Operations Officer (COO). Mr Plaatjies will commence his duties from 01 November 2019.

Mr Plaatjies joins the SABC from the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) where he is the Chief Digital Officer.  He has more than 30 years’ experience in various industries, including telecommunications, mining, banking and the financial services sector.  Mr Plaatjies has held the senior executive positions of Group Chief Information Officer (CIO) at SBV and Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Absa Group Payments, respectively.

Johannesburg – Wednesday 02 October 2019 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Njanji Chauke as the Editor of the SABC News Channel (24-hour News Channel) with effect from 01 October 2019.

Mr Chauke is a multi-skilled media professional, with a journalism career that spans over 22 years. He began his broadcast career on campus radio at Tshwane University of Technology, where he obtained a Diploma in Journalism.

Johannesburg – Monday 30 September 2019 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) 2018/19 Annual Report was tabled in Parliament today.  In celebrating 25 years of democracy, the public broadcaster has delivered on its extensive public service mandate despite very challenging conditions.

Johannesburg-Saturday, 21 September 2019-It has come to the attention of the SABC Board that a memorandum authored by two non-executive Directors containing untested allegations has been widely distributed to the media. On 13 September 2019 a memorandum by Deputy Chairperson Ms. Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi and Dr Marcia Socikwa was submitted for Board consideration.

It alleged improper conduct by the SABC’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mr Madoda Mxakwe, and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ms Yolande van Biljon. The memorandum was not discussed by the Board as the document was distributed shortly before the meeting was set to commence.

Johannesburg – Friday, 20 September 2019 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce that is has reached an agreement with IMG, for the radio rights to broadcast select matches of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The agreement includes the broadcast of four matches featuring the National Rugby team, the Springboks, as well as two semi-finals and the final match.

SABC radio stations RSG and Radio 2000 will carry live commentary, whilst Umhlobo Wenene will provide reports during the match.

Johannesburg – Thursday, 12 September 2019 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has been inundated with media queries regarding consequence management actions affecting a number of its employees.  Some of the employees are going through disciplinary processes, while others are either suspended or have been dismissed.

The Corporation believes it is necessary to provide clarity on this matter. The disciplinary processes that the SABC is actively pursuing are informed by recommendations emanating from the following:

Johannesburg – Tuesday, 10 September 2019 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) can now provide the public with an update regarding a serious production and transmission failure that occurred in its News Division on the evening of 5 September 2019.

The incident occurred at 18h00 when the SABC News Channel aired an incorrect clip of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pre-recorded address to the nation on The Full View programme.

The SABC’s preliminary investigation into the incident has revealed that material for the 18h00 broadcast of the President’s pre-recorded address was prepared in good time to ensure a clean transmission. However, unauthorised changes were effected without any communication to the desk. Consequently, the programme published and played the rehearsal clip from President Ramaphosa’s recorded address to the nation, instead of the final version.

On that day, the SABC News office in Parliament had earlier sent the feed capturing both the rehearsal and final speech of the President to the Line Records desk. Those involved in production activities were all warned in advance that they should disregard the rehearsal clip.  The SABC now has strong prima facie evidence indicating that the broadcast of the incorrect clip was a well-considered and coordinated act of sabotage to bring the SABC and consequently the President into disrepute.

The employees who were involved in production activities at the time of the incident were given opportunity to make written representations as to why disciplinary steps should not be instituted against them. The SABC has received the representations and, after due consideration, the Corporation has decided to suspend three permanent employees and unschedule one freelancer. Due process will be followed. The second phase of the investigation into this incident is still under way.

The public broadcaster’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Madoda Mxakwe says “the SABC will not tolerate any acts or omissions that bring the public broadcaster into disrepute, and undermine efforts to eradicate systemic problems of malfeasance and maladministration plaguing the institution”.

SABC News and Current Affairs Group Executive, Phathiswa Magopeni says “any employee found to be involved in clandestine activities aimed at undoing the ongoing work to restore the credibility of the public news service, will be dealt with accordingly within the confines of the SABC’s human resources and disciplinary policies”.

The news operation is mindful of the implications of the incident on its credibility and the reputation of the SABC. Magopeni further says “we are committed to doing everything possible to improve the quality of our work and elevate the standard of our performance. What happened on Thursday has no place at all in the public news service”.

The public broadcaster wants to assure the public that it is on track in dealing with elements that seek to derail the SABC from fulfilling its constitutional imperative as a key pillar of our democracy.

END                                                                                         

Issued By:     The office of the Group CEO

Media Enquiries:       Ms. Vuyo Mthembu (SABC Spokesperson)

Mthembuv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 2236 |C. 083 300 9221

Johannesburg – Thursday, 05 September 2019 – In a pre-recorded televised message by President Cyril Ramaphosa to the nation this evening, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC),  inadvertently broadcast an incorrect version of the President’s speech on SABC News, while the correct version was played across all SABC radio stations.