Johannesburg – Sunday, 12 February 2023-The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is set to join the rest of the world in commemorating the 12^th edition of World radio day on Monday, 13 February 2023. World Radio day has been celebrated since 2012 to re-emphasise the pivotal role radio plays as a primary platform to public information relating to political, economic and societal topics aimed at empowering the society.

This year’s World radio day is celebrated under the UNESCO theme ‘Radio and Peace’. SABC Radio portfolio has lined up thought-provoking content including panel discussions, interviews, on-air promos and other programming formats on digital platforms to discuss radio’s capabilities to advocate for peacebuilding in many communities.

Targeted discussions will focus on how radio since its inception played a pivotal role in changing peoples’ lives in various parts of the world. The discussions will specifically look into how radio when required steadily became a pillar for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

SAfm will host a panel discussion live from 10h00 -11h45 on ‘The Talking Point with Oliver Dickson’. The panel will include industry experts that will discuss the role of radio under the theme “Radio and Peace”.  In addition, Channel Africa will host various discussions focusing on the impact of war and the responsibility of media as well as media’s role in peace-keeping missions.

Munghana Lonene FM will use its midday show, ‘Dzumba na Mina’ from 13h30 until 15h00 to simulcast with Radio Mozambique for 15 minutes to discuss how radio broadcasting has evolved in the two countries. 5FM will use its “Get around the world with 5FM’s Big 2023 Energy” campaign to encourage listeners from across the country, and around the globe to share videos and voice notes, indicating where in the world they are while showing their surroundings and spreading the ‘Big 2023 energy’ as part of 5FM’s initiatives for World Radio Day.

The SABC’s television programme, Daily Thetha on SABC 1 will feature SABC’s Group Executive for Radio, Ms. Nada Wotshela and some of the SABC Radio Business Managers to reiterate the importance of radio and its relevance in modern day society.

On this important day, Good Hope FM will unveil something new and exciting for the listeners and advertisers. The goal for this exercise is to identify the experiences, concerns, hopes and dreams that resonate with its audiences.

The Group Executive for SABC Radio, Ms. Nada Wotshela said “there is nothing as fulfilling as knowing that at the end of each day the great efforts put in by men and women behind our radio products have contributed meaningfully to the society. Radio has proven that no amount of technological advancements can rattle its relevance, it has become such an irreplaceable and essential platform to access important news for the citizens. We have witnessed how it has broken the barriers in the far-flung rural areas where socio-economic conditions limit a plethora of other broadcasting platforms and became the only source of information during the occurrences of protests and natural disasters.

“The theme this year was well-thought considering how many communities have been empowered with educational content that has in many instances saved their lives and enabled them to make life changing decisions during any kind of conflict affecting their immediate communities, the country, the African continent and across the globe.

Radio continues to play an important role in educating, informing and entertaining millions of the SABC audiences.

Tune into other SABC Radio stations and follow their digital platforms for all the great discussions relating to World Radio Day.

ENDS

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Seapolelo (Acting Group Executive: Corporate Affairs & Marketing)

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

Johannesburg – Wednesday, 1 February 2023 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will offer the public service broadcaster’s first ever 24-hour news channel in African languages in April 2023.  In addition, this channel will offer an extensive coverage of parliamentary proceedings.

The launch of this channel is in line with the SABC’s public mandate obligation, for the provision of universal access, as enjoined by the relevant legislation governing the SABC.

The imminent launch of this channel reinforces the SABC’s pivotal role in facilitating social cohesion, by providing a wide range of programming that caters for the needs of the entire society. The SABC is also driven by the three key principles in its news delivery and value proposition: the principle of inclusion, deliberation and opinion formation which are aimed at empowering citizens to be part of participatory democracy, despite their socio-economic status, geographical location and language.

The channel, which is not new, was acquired in 2018 and publicly accessed through the DTT platform from 2019, offering parliamentary proceedings exclusively. In line with the SABC’s governance framework, a business decision was made to reposition the channel to offer more than parliamentary proceedings and include bulletins and current affairs in African languages. This channel will continue to broadcast on DTT and will be added on the public broadcaster’s OTT platform.

The SABC’s Group Executive: News and Current Affairs, Mr. Moshoeshoe Monare stated that  “This is our response to the demand from millions of our viewers yearning for extensive news coverage and a dedicated channel in their own languages. The response from our viewers was phenomenal and this is not a replication of our English news channel. We are telling different stories of our communities and reflecting people’s aspirations in their own languages.”

Monare further stated that “This public news service is an added platform to serve mainly communities that are not necessarily reached by mainstream commercial media. These are millions of viewers who wait until evening, to watch less than half an hour bulletins in their own languages. SABC News is well positioned to rise to this challenge, because of its decades of experience in public broadcasting in indigenous languages”.

The SABC reiterates its commitment as the country’s only public service broadcaster, to fulfil its constitutional mandate of delivering news and current affairs content that reflects the diverse South African society.

All the details pertaining to the channel will be revealed soon.

ENDS

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Seapolelo (Acting Group Executive: Corporate Affairs & Marketing)

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

Johannesburg – Wednesday, 18 January 2023 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)’s biggest commercial radio station, METRO FM, is pleased to announce the return of the much-anticipated music awards ceremony, the METRO FM Music Awards (MMAs)2023.

The renowned glamourous awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on 29  April 2023, and will be hosted by the City of Mbombela,Mpumalanga. The ceremony will be broadcast live on SABC1 and supported by various SABC radio stations. The awards will also be streamed live on SABC Plus and METRO FM’s YouTube channel.

Following a short-lived break, the MMAs will provide a platform for interaction with music, business, public representatives, communities and the media, with a rationale to recognise and reward luminaries and excellence in the music industry. In addition, this year’s awards are designed to stimulate interest by unearthing talent and promoting development.

A call for submission for the nominees was also announced today. The METRO FM Music Awards 2023 is open for the entries from the 19 January 2023 will close on 28 February 2023.  The submissions can be done on www.metrofmmusicawards.co.za/.

The METRO FM Music Awards 2023 comprises of 20 categories and stringent requirement for albums, singles and recordings eligible released between 28 February 2022 to 28 February 2023.

The Group Executive for SABC Radio Ms. Nada Wotshela stated that “We are excited to bring back one of the SABC’s biggest event that is loved by the millions of our audiences. This event has grown to be embraced by the industry and surely has made an indelible mark, hence the demand for it remained high even at the time of its short break. This property presents a great opportunity to amplify the SABC’s brand equity and strengthen our efforts of taking SABC brands to the people”.

In addition, Wotshela stated that “METRO FM Music Awards are successful because of the key strategic partnerships with various stakeholders and this is not something we take for granted. We have held this event in different provinces and we are delighted they have returned to Mpumalanga and are looking forward to an exhilarating event” concluded Wotshela.

The Head of Department for Culture, Sport and Recreation, Mr. Godfrey Ntombela said “We are delighted to welcome the METRO FM Music Awards back to Mpumalanga Province. We strongly believe that this event will reignite tourism and the fact that we are the host Province again is an indication that our Province is a perfect destination for tourism and cultural activities. The opportunity to host this major event comes at the right time and we are hopeful that it will benefit the creative industry that is still reeling from the dire effects of COVID-19”.

More information for the awards can be accessed on these websites http://www.metrofm.co.za and  www.metrofmmusicawards.co.za/  and the station’s social media platforms :

Facebook: METROFMSA

Twitter: @METROFMSA

Instagram: METROFMSA

TikTok: METROFMSA

ENDS

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)

NtuliGM@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3311 | C. 071 877 0513

SABC Education in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is launching its Matric Results service which runs from 16 January until 28 February 2023. The Minister of the Department of Basic Education will release the senior certificate results on Thursday, 19^th January 2023 and the candidates’ results on Friday, 20^th January 2023.

The SABC Education Matric Results service will release the results to all students across all Provinces who have registered using the SMS, USSD and MatricsMate App on the mid-night of the day of the release.

The learners are encouraged to pre-register using the SABC Education Matric Results service, and just by registering you stand the chance to win instant airtime!

Learners can register using any of the registration mechanisms, either SMS or USSD and  stand a chance to WIN their share of R10, 000 in airtime! Learners can also download the MatricsMate App from Google Play and Apple App Stores to receive their  National Senior Certificate Examination results.

Learners should register with their exam number on the platform of their choice to access their results.

Register on our mobile services to receive the 2022 Matric Results:

SMS

• SMS exam number to 45856
• The system verifies the Exam number; exam number must be correct in order to be accepted.
• Learners will be charged R1,50 per SMS, free SMS’s do not apply

USSD

• Dial *120*45856# enter exam number to register
• Learners will be charged R1,50 per minute on USSD.
• Results will be sent to learner phone once available

MATRICSMATE  APP

• Download for free from Google Play and Apple App Stores

Should the learners have queries relating to registration and the use of the SABC Education Matric Results service, they can contact the call centre on 011 507 4755, Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm. However, on the day of the release, the call center will operate from Midnight to 5pm.

Further queries on the SABC Education Matric Results services can be directed to Raymond Moruku, Project Manager for Matric Results campaign, SABC Education, morukurk@sabc.co.za or visit www.sabceducation.co.za.

Embargo on the publication of results: 

The 2022 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results will be released at the different schools at 08:00 on Friday, 20 January 2023. These results will be made available to the media houses/service providers on Thursday, 19 January 2023, at 07:00. The publication of results will be embargoed until 06:00 on Friday, 20 January 2023 for all PEDs results, except in the Western Cape.

The Western Cape data will be released to the media houses/service providers on Friday, 20 January 2023 at 12:00. It must be emphasized that the integrity and credibility of the examinations depend on how the results are handled by the various service providers. Failure to abide by the above-mentioned conditions will result in legal action against the recipient of the data, and the recipient will be barred access to all examination results/data in future.

NB: Bursaries are available from NSFAS for any course of study. Contact NSFAS on 08600 NSFAS (0860067327), e-mail info@nsfas.org.za or visit www.nsfas.org.za.

“SABC Education: Enriching Minds, Enriching Lives”.

END

SABC2 unpacks the history of the Khoekhoe nation in a new 7-part series, The Khoekhoe Saga, which will debut this Sunday, 8 January 2023, at 21:00.

Presented by Rehane Abrahams and Jolene Martin, The Khoekhoe Saga chronicles the untold story of the Khoekhoe herders, one of South Africa’s First Nations, as we explore the legacy of the forgotten people. For many years they were believed to be extinct, wiped out by the disease, a myth perpetuated by the colonial powers and the Apartheid regime. This landmark series uses a modern interpretation of historical records by historians, rock art, and excavations from archaeologists to reveal a new narrative. It’s a story of the survival of one of the oldest cultures in the world, which faced an unexpected threat to its way of life in 1652 when the Dutch East India Company set up a refreshment station at the Cape.

The series affords the Khoekhoe herders a platform to tell their story from their perspective.

Rehane Abrahams spends time with descendants of the Hessequas and takes a country-wide journey to trace the trek of the Griquas. She finally arrives in Kokstad, where she meets descendants of those that made the journey more than a hundred years ago.

Meanwhile, Jolene Martin takes a trip deep into Namaqualand to explore the ancient art of storytelling in Kommagas and meets some interesting characters.

The film traces the origins of the Khoekhoe in Northern Botswana and their distribution all over Southern Africa. It also explains the difference between the Khoekhoe and the San (Bushmen).

The Khoekhoe saga documentary is written and directed by Johann Abrahams, a direct descendant.

For more information, interview opportunities and publicity images, contact SABC2 Publicity.

Don’t miss The Khoekhoe Saga starting this Sunday, 8 January 2023, at 21:00, only on SABC2.

Polokwane- Monday, 19 December 2022 – After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, Thobela FM brought back the ever-popular Thobela FM Gospel Music festival with a bang this past weekend, attracting an audience of more than 10,000.

The event was not only a Gospel festival, but a prayer day for families which crossed over into the next day under the theme of  “We Are Conquerors”.    Gospel fans from across the province attended the praise and worship event that attracted a record number of attendees who participated with no incident. SABC Plus, the public broadcaster’s new OTT digital platform also streamed the event live, expanding the concert’s reach even further to audiences who were unable to physically attend.

Performance highlights included sets by Bucy Radebe, Dr. Tumi, Thina Zungu,  Psalmist Sefako, Peter Mabula, Omega, Urban Matjila, Sinky Mathe, Dr. Makhwiting, Wacha Mkhukhu, Mme Onicca,  Luyanda Ramatswi,  and many more of the country’s leading gospel artists.

“The return of Thobela FM’s Gospel Music Festival exceeded our expectations.  Our listeners came out in numbers to support the festival in a way that we have not seen before,” says Madikana Matjila, Business Manager of the SABC’s Limpopo Combo which also includes Munghana Lonene FM and Phalaphala FM.  “The Thobela FM brand is committed to ensuring that we provide our listeners with brand experiences that are in line with our values so we can continue to grow and expand in the marketplace.  The live stream of the Festival on SABC Plus allowed the Thobela FM brand to be experienced by new audiences and we look forward to doing more of the same in the future”.

Thobela FM is SABC’s only radio station that broadcasts in Northern Sotho.  For more information about Thobela FM, visit the stations website at  http://www.thobelafm.co.za

ABOUT THE SABC PLUS APP

The SABC + streaming app provides the best that the SABC has to offer including 19 radio stations and 3 free-to-air television channels SABC 1, SABC 2, SABC 3, as well as the SABC Sports Channel and the SABC’s 24-hour news channel.

ENDS

Issued By:                 Group Communications

Media Enquiries:        Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)

NtuliGM@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3311 | C. 071 877 0513

Johannesburg – Thursday, 8 December 2022 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has launched its new brand campaign, ‘SABC everywhere for everyone, always’. This brand campaign is devised to further resonate with new and existing audiences and showcase the increased brand value offered by the public broadcaster.

The SABC has responded to the changing broadcasting environment, which has seen increased competition from diverse multi-platforms within the industry. Thus, through this new brand campaign, the SABC ensures that its television, radio and digital platforms continue to attract, retain, and grow audience shares in the highly competitive and fragmented media environment.

The brand campaign is delivered in a 90-second Television commercial (TVC) format, with a solid message that showcases the SABC as a multi-platform content provider that creates iconic entertainment, amplifies the best of local stories, displays Mzansi in colour and provides valuable information and educational content for everyone everywhere.

The SABC’s Group Executive for Corporate Affairs and Marketing, Ms Gugu Ntuli, stated, “With this new brand campaign, we are responding to changing consumer patterns of our audiences who have a myriad of content to choose from. Our goal is to ensure high levels of the SABC brand equity. We also aim to counter the impact of other media types by providing an array of alternative platforms to access SABC services everywhere for everyone and always. We have also recently launched the SABC Plus streaming App, which further strengthens our efforts for universal access and inclusivity to connect with our diverse target audiences, and this campaign is therefore aligned with amplifying this great milestone”.

Ntuli added, “The other fundamental rationale underpinning this brand campaign is to ensure that we create top-of-mind awareness and brand visibility of an evolved SABC brand to our audiences and trade markets”.

The new SABC brand campaign will bring the public broadcaster’s vision of becoming the leading credible voice and face of the nation and the continent to life. It will also affirm what the brand stands for and remind consumers of the benefits of the SABC being part of their lives.

All SABC channels will carry this campaign, including News and Sports channels. To access the TVC, the following link should be clicked:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb7IE0aTJCs

#Everywhere4Everyone

Ends

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)

NtuliGM@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3311 | C. 071 877 0513

Johannesburg – Thursday, 01 December 2022 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was ranked first in the category of‘Government Enterprises: State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) – SABC’ at the 11^TH edition of the annual Top Companies South Africa (TCSA) Reputation Index Results.

These awards are independently driven by Plus94 Research and Media Torque and Events, and according to their media statement “The TCSA Index measures how the public thinks feels, and behaves toward the country’s most well-known companies in 20 industrial sectors”.

Ms Gugu Ntuli, the SABC’s Group Executive for Corporate Affairs and Marketing stated “We are excited by this acknowledgement, as a scientific method is used in determining how the respective companies’ reputations and corporate brands are viewed. As an SOE, as well as a broadcasting media house, many efforts are taken to engage with many stakeholders we serve and this positive ranking in the TCSA indicates that our efforts are bearing fruit”.

Ends

Issued By:                              Group Communications

Media Enquiries:                   Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)

NtuliGM@sabc.co.za|T. 011 714 3311|C. 071 877 0513