Johannesburg – Monday, 8 December 2025 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) Radio portfolio, dominated with a remarkable 27 Awards at the Telkom SA Radio Awards, which took place at a glitzy gala dinner on Saturday, 6 December 2025, at the Sandton Convention Centre.

The Telkom SA Radio Awards honour and recognise exceptional and innovative excellence in the Radio industry in South Africa. It sets a benchmark for Radio excellence. This programme is dedicated to fairness and integrity and is focused on being a credible, well-judged and transparent programme. This year, the SABC was nominated for 86 Awards under the General Categories Nominations, across our Commercial and PBS stations.

Lotus FM did exceptionally well, winning 6 awards, with Ikwekwezi FM, RSG and trufm each winning 3. 5FM, Radio 2000, SAfm and Ukhozi FM won 2 awards respectively. Ikwekwezi FM achieved 3 awards and the coveted Station of the Year Award – PBS.

The 27 Awards across the categories are as follows:

SABC Radio also achieved two Hall of Fame inductee awards, going to Mr Johan Van Rooyen who is the GM: PCS Radio & Strategy and Ms. Marietta Kruger from RSG. This honorary Award is given to individuals with a minimum of 30 years of indelible contributions to Radio in South Africa and is nominated by their peers in Radio; it is a special and non-competitive Award.

The SABC’s Ms Nada Wotsehela, Group Executive: Radio said “Every year as SABC Radio, our talent and content shine at the Telkom SA Radio Awards and this year was no exception. The 27 awards across the portfolio are an indication that the SABC continues to serve the nation and deliver on its public service mandate, through excellence and dedication.”

She further stated “We are also extremely proud that Mr Van Rooyen and Ms Kruger have been inducted into the Hall of Fame for these awards. They have served the organisation with distinction and their loyalty and dedication to not only the industry but serving the South African public for over 30 years, is a recognition well deserved.”

The SABC takes this opportunity to congratulate all its winners for their remarkable achievements at this year’s Radio Awards.

ENDS

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Ngubane (Head of Communications) NgubaneMV@sabc.co.za T. 011 714 3057| C. 073 688 1590

Johannesburg – Wednesday, 03 December 2025 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation

(SABC) proudly celebrates the academic achievement of its Board member, Dr. Mpho Tsedu, who has been awarded a PhD in Political Studies from Nelson Mandela University. This milestone underlines the SABC’s commitment to excellence and highlights the dedication of its leadership to continuous growth and achievement.

Dr. Tsedu is a distinguished political scholar whose career reflects a rare synthesis of rigorous academic research, high-level government service, and influential public engagement. He joined the SABC Board in April 2023 and continues to make a meaningful contribution to the Corporation’s vision and governance.

The Group CEO of the SABC, Ms Nomsa Chabeli says, “Dr. Tsedu’s achievement is a source of pride for the SABC. His dedication to scholarship and public service inspires us all to reach greater heights”.

The SABC celebrates this accomplishment as a testament to the excellence and commitment of its leadership.

ENDS

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Ngubane (Head of Communications)

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

Johannesburg – Tuesday, 18 November 2025 – The South African Broadcasting (SABC) is proud to serve as the official host broadcaster for the G20 Summit, to be held between 22 November – 23 November 2025, at Nasrec, Johannesburg, South Africa. This is the first time the G20 Summit will be held on African soil, underscoring the historic significance of South Africa’s leadership and the SABC’s mandate as a trusted public service media organisation. The SABC will provide the official G20 news feed to all 19 G20 member countries, as well as 50 additional nations and multiple international news agencies.

This positions the SABC not only as a vital national institution, but as an important continental and global platform trusted for accuracy, depth, and professionalism. The SABC will provide audiences with in-depth analysis of issues as they develop at the summit, providing a front row seat to understand issues affecting G20 countries and the world.

Nomsa Chabeli, SABC Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), said: “Serving as the host broadcaster is not just a technical responsibility, it is a national duty. Our coverage is about ensuring that every South African has equitable access to one of the world’s most important global gatherings. Broadcasting in all 12 official languages, including Sign Language, reflects our commitment to inclusivity and world-class journalism. Our participation further entrenches the reach of the SABC, as people across the globe will have access to world-class news broadcasting. We are fully prepared to deliver on our mandate as the official host broadcaster for the G20 Summit.”

To deliver comprehensive coverage, the SABC will deploy advanced broadcast facilities at Nasrec, including:

TELEVISION

•  Two broadcast TV studios carrying SABC News Channel 404, Free-To-Air channels, and international partner feeds

DIGITAL

•  A dedicated 24/7 SABC News pop-up channel on SABC+, ensuring continuous coverage.
• SABC Lehae TV channel on SABC+ and DTT, providing community-focused multilingual coverage.

RADIO

• Three on-site radio studios feeding all 19 SABC radio services.
•  Five flagship stations broadcasting live from Nasrec: Metro FM, SAFM, RSG, Ikwekwezi FM, and Channel Africa, extending reach across South Africa and the continent.

Coverage will begin with the B20 and Social Summit, building momentum into the main G20 programme.

As the host broadcaster for the G20 Summit, the SABC will deliver independent, impartial, and comprehensive coverage that reflects South Africa’s role on the global stage. This historic moment underscores the broadcaster’s mandate to inform, educate, and unite audiences everywhere.

ENDS

Issued By: Group Communications
Media Enquiries:   Mmoni Ngubane (Head of Communications)
NgubaneMV@sabc.co.za T. 011 714 3057| C. 073 688 1590

RFQ ISSUE DATE 11 NOVEMBER 2025

CLOSING DATE & TIME 18 NOVEMBER 2025 AT 12H00PM

Submissions must be emailed to: SABC RFQSubmissions@sabc.co.za :on or before the closing date of this RFQ.

For queries, please contact Nyandano Nemukula on email nemukulan@sabc.co.za

http://web.sabc.co.za/digital/stage/Corporate/CMO VIDEOS/SABC_CMO_Video_Spar.mp4

The public broadcaster is not only an essential source of news and information, it preserves a local storytelling voice amid the inundation of foreign influence, writes Khathu Ramukumba.

Without an appropriate and strategic government intervention for our public broadcaster’s financial sustainability, South Africans stand to lose their voice and identity, risking the viability of our young democracy. For decades, our public broadcaster has carried the voices, stories and languages of this country into every home without distinction based on socioeconomic status or geographical location. However, today, that voice stands to falter. The SABC remains one of the few institutions that reflect the soul of South Africa, and we need to ensure that it is adequately equipped to fulfil its public service mandate.

The SABC stands at a crossroads, caught between the rise of global streaming platforms, the dominance of multinational media and the structural constraints of a funding model designed for a long-gone era. This is not simply a business problem, but a national one. If the SABC fails, South Africa will lose far more than a broadcaster. We will lose one of the few remaining spaces that reflects and represents the lives of all South Africans.

The challenges are real and intensifying. Advertising revenues continue to decline given the emergence of unregulated social media and streaming platforms, while fewer households pay TV licences. On the other hand, production and signal costs continue to rise. Furthermore, audience habits have shifted irreversibly toward streaming and mobile platforms. Against this backdrop, the SABC, with its constitutional mandate to inform, educate and entertain, operates under a heavily limited resources base, public scrutiny and mounting expectations. This, without the correct funding model is an almost impossible balance to sustain.

The SABC’s reliance on TV licence fees as the main source of funding is unsustainable. It assumes that most South Africans watch television on a single device in the lounge. Furthermore, this funding model ignores the radio offering provided by the SABC. The reality is that many South Africans consume content on their phones, laptops and gaming consoles, often streaming international series, podcasts or short-form videos.

The law that governs the SABC’s revenue model has simply not kept pace with how audiences actually live. Without a new, enforceable and fair funding system, the public broadcaster will remain trapped in a cycle of crisis and possibly face extinction. It’s easy to dismiss the SABC as a relic, but that would be a grave mistake. When floods devastate communities, when elections approach, when misinformation spreads online — it is still the SABC that reaches every corner of the country, in all 11 official languages. Commercial broadcasters, for all their strengths, are not designed to serve the public good. Their reach depends on profit and subscription, the SABC’s depends on the principle of universal coverage and public service. To allow it to fail is to accept that millions of South Africans, particularly in rural and low-income areas, will be cut off from reliable information that is educative, entertaining and representative.

The SABC does not need endless bailouts. What it needs is a deliberate, innovative, structured and sustainable funding intervention that recognises its public value and secures its independence.

That SABC’s proposed interventions include:

• A modern funding model: Replace the outdated licence system with a universal, tech neutral public media levy possibly collected through the South African Revenue Service;
• Legislated stability: Guarantee appropriate public funding from the fiscus through law, according to the public mandate delivery required;
• Digital transformation: Accelerate investment in SABC+, turning it into a true digital platform that delivers South African content across devices and borders; and
• Cultural investment: Protect and promote local storytelling, languages, traditions, cultures and talent through targeted public-interest content funding.

This is not charity, it is a commitment to national identity, nation building and the defence of our young democracy. Across the world, public broadcasters are under strain, but where governments act decisively, they thrive.

The BBC’s enforceable licence fee and direct government funding, Germany’s household levy and Canada’s parliamentary grants all ensure that citizens continue to have access to trusted, independent journalism, education and entertainment. If South Africa fails to act, we will move in the opposite direction towards a future where our media diet is dictated by algorithms and corporate strategies from across our borders.

That would be a profound cultural and identity loss. A country that cannot tell its own stories soon forgets who it is. Every crisis the SABC endures chips away at public trust. But the ultimate cost of inaction will be democratic, not financial. A weak or absent public broadcaster leaves the information space vulnerable to misinformation, propaganda and most importantly the exclusion of the poor and marginalised.

The SABC remains one of the few institutions capable of uniting South Africans through shared experience. To preserve that role, we need courage from policymakers and imagination from industry partners. We need a national consensus that public broadcasting is a public good, worthy of investment and protection.

I write this not as a plea for rescue, but as an appeal for vision. The SABC’s future cannot depend on nostalgia or survival instincts alone. It must be underpinned by policy, by purpose and by pride. If the government acts now, wisely and decisively, it can ensure that the SABC remains a living institution that secures universal access and is modern, independent and proudly South African. If it does not, we risk a future where our children’s voices are drowned out by foreign ones, and our stories fade quietly into silence. The SABC’s survival is not just about broadcasting, it is about belonging and that is something no nation can afford to lose

This piece was originally published in the Sunday Times on the 9th of November 2025

Gqeberha – Friday, 7 November 2025 – trufm, the Eastern Cape’s youthful voice of culture and identity, has officially launched its summer campaign “Nguwo Nguwo Ngumgidi” in proud partnership with Vodacom.

The campaign celebrates the vibrancy of Umgidi season, one of isiXhosa culture’s most significant traditions that marks the transition of young men into manhood and brings families together in joy and unity. Through this collaboration, trufm continues to champion authentic storytelling that connects modern youth with their heritage.

Running from 7 November – 12 December, Nguwo Nguwo Ngumgidi forms part of trufm’s ultimate summer line-up. The campaign features prominently during trufm’s popular Culture Tuesdays segment on truDrive with Thembela “King Booi”, Sethu Booi, and Sanele “Seyda” Nongauza, joined by cultural contributor Tata uTyatyeka and prominent cultural experts in the Eastern Cape region. Listeners can expect engaging discussions on lived experiences surrounding Ulwaluko (initiation) and Umgidi (the celebration), featuring insights from initiates, parents, and community elders.

Each week, trufm and Vodacom will spotlight two families across the Eastern Cape preparing to host their Umgidi celebrations. Listeners are encouraged to vote for their favourite stories via SMS, with Vodacom rewarding four of the most inspiring families for sharing their journeys of pride and unity with a R20,000 cash prize each.

In the true spirit of ububele (kindness), trufm will adopt one of the featured Umgidis — bringing gifts, love, and celebration to that community. Joining the festivities is the Umgidi Choir, winners of the Gwijo Competition at the Mandela Bay Arts Festival, whose powerful voices feature in the campaign’s promotional theme.

“trufm has always been more than just radio,” says Loyiso Bala, trufm Business Manager. “We are the youthful rhythm of the Eastern Cape, the sound that carries our people’s stories, culture, and pride. Nguwo Nguwo Ngumgidi is about celebrating who we are loudly, proudly, and joyfully.”

Follow the journey on trufm:

• Mondays: Family match-up announcements
• Tuesdays: Nguwo Nguwo Ngumgidi Culture Tuesdays
• Fridays: Weekly winner reveals
• Wednesdays: Live on-air cheque handovers

Join the conversation on social media using #NguwoNguwoNgumgidi and celebrate a summer of unity — powered by Vodacom, celebrated by trufm, inspired by our culture.

Competition Terms and Conditions: www.trufm.co.za

Follow trufm:

• Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – @trufm
• TikTok – @trufmza
• Listen via SABC Plus & DStv Channel 816 (Audio Bouquet)

ENDS

Media Enquiries:

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Ngubane (Head of Communications)

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

Gqeberha – Friday, 7 November 2025 – The EC Combo stations — Umhlobo Wenene FM and trufm — will headline two major cultural music events on Saturday, 8 November 2025, reaffirming their leadership in promoting South African tradition, isintu, folklore, and spiritual heritage through sound. Umhlobo Wenene FM partners with Khayelitsha Maskandi Festival while trufm unveils Joliza Ushuni Webhaca Album Launch.

UMHLOBO WENENE FM – KHAYELITSHA MASKANDI FESTIVAL, CAPE TOWN

Umhlobo Wenene FM partners with the Khayelitsha Maskandi Festival, returning for its second year at the Khayelitsha Rugby Stadium. The festival will showcase some of the country’s biggest Maskandi artists, including Limit Nala, Menzi, Umafikizolo, Gatsheni, Shenge, Prince, Sminifu, Mjolisi, Tornado, Njoko, Amawele ka MamTshawe, Thandazani, and Manjosi.

The station will bring its traditional show personalities Gudlabatshakazi and Mntwanomgquba to the stage, alongside a live broadcast of Lavuth’iBhayi from the venue. Additional guest appearances include the award-winning iDrive Enochatha crew Luks Gidane, Babe-Zee Mbusi, Phethu Soga, and TLG, with Babe-Zee having co-hosted Ushuni Womhlaba talent show, won by Joliza BhacaSoul in 2024. Umhlobo Wenene FM’s footprint will extend further through Ezezolo, hosted by Elvis Mali, also broadcasting live from the festival.

trufm – JOLIZA USHUNI WEBHACA ALBUM LAUNCH, GQEBERHA

At The Athenaeum in Gqeberha, trufm will present the highly anticipated Joliza Ushuni Webhaca Album Launch to both the Eastern Cape audience and the national market.

Joliza’s music, which he calls Bhaca Soul, blends Afro-soul, jazz, and Maskandi influences with traditional Bhaca rhythm elements of ukucwiya (spiritual singing), ukuvalela (spiritual humming), and ukusina (spiritual dancing). The launch will feature performances by Phuzekhemisi, Dr Buselaphi, Dumza Maswana, Xabiso Zweni, Ntsika, Manombolo, and Joliza Ushuni as the headline act. trufm’s A-Zee, hosted by Simo Zokwana and Azile Maka, will broadcast live from the event, offering listeners a front-row experience of this rich celebration of culture and sound.

“Both Umhlobo Wenene FM and trufm carry a responsibility to preserve, celebrate, and elevate the sounds that shape who we are. These two events reflect our commitment to nurturing cultural and indigenous pride, platforming authentic storytelling, and bringing our audiences closer to the roots of their heritage”, said Loyiso Bala, Business Manager: EC Combo (Umhlobo Wenene FM & trufm)

Follow both events on Umhlobo Wenene FM and trufm social media pages.

ENDS

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Ngubane (Head of Communications)

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

Johannesburg – Wednesday, 5 November 2025 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is proud to announce that one of its renowned international Correspondent, Mr Sherwin Bryce Pease and Cameraman Aaron Berbrick have been named the gold winner by the United Nation Correspondents Association and awarded with the Ricardo Ortega Memorial Prize.

This accolade relates to an interview that Sherwin and Aaron conducted with Tom Fletcher, the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian affairs ahead of the UN General Assembly in September on Gaza and other conflict zones.

An excited Sherwin stated, “The SABC News team in New York is absolutely thrilled by this acknowledgement, it’s a validation of our work and commitment but also the investment that the public broadcaster continues to make in our operations in the United States. Our ethos is to deliver quality, accurate content that not only inspires but educates and informs, as well as driven by substance and facts. Aaron and I are proud to receive this award but only honoured to represent SABC News on the international stage”.

Sherwin and Aaron will be formally presented with a gold award at the Gala event in December 2025.
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Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Ngubane (Head of Communication)
NgubaneMV@sabc.co.za T. 011 714 3057| C. 073 688 1590

Cape Town – Monday, 06 October 2025 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the country’s only public service broadcaster, is once again collaborating with the Loeries for their Loeries Creative Week 2025. The Loeries are Africa’s and the Middle East’s premier brand communications event. This year, Loeries Creative Week 2025, takes place from 05 October until 10 October in Cape Town.

As the official partner of the Loeries in the Film and Radio categories, the SABC champions’ creativity, innovation, and excellence in storytelling that moves, inspires, and connects audiences. The SABC has planned various activations during the Loeries Creative Week 2025, to showcase the Corporation’s position as a powerful creative hub, propelling local creativity and an authentic platform fostering innovation by celebrating culture in creative spaces.

Mr Themba Gwejela, the SABC’s Group Executive for Corporate Affairs and Marketing states, “Creativity and advertising are at the heart of the SABC, and we’re excited to continue this relationship with the Loeries. Through our participation in the event, including a masterclass on blending African languages with digital coolness, we are celebrating the region’s creative spirit and showing how culture drives connection on every platform. We’re also proud to once again honour the best of the best at the main award evening, through the presentation of two key awards”.

SABC LOERIES CREATIVE WEEK 2025 HIGHLIGHTS:

• SABC Link Up Client Connect (Tuesday, October 07 October 2025)

This event will feature presentations from the SABC sales team on the organisation’s VE, Radio, Sport, and Digital offerings to key clients.

• Masterclass: Clicks & Culture – The Art of Language (Thursday, 09 October 2025).

The SABC will host a masterclass exploring how African languages can be used effectively in digital communication, blending language purity with digital playfulness:

Moderator: Leigh‑Anne Williams: Presenter of ‘The Morning Show with Leigh-Anne Williams’ on Good Hope FM, TV Host, MC and Founder of the Warrior Woman Awards.

Speaker: Renier Swart: Setswana Rugby Commentator & Broadcast Legend.

Speaker: Katlego Thulare: Senior Copywriter and Storyteller.

Speaker: Seipati “Twasa” Seoke: Radio and TV Personality, Mentor, Cultural Influencer.

• SABC Brand Dinner

The SABC is the official brand dinner host for the Loeries because it plays a pivotal role in celebrating and amplifying South Africa’s creative excellence through its powerful media platforms. As the nation’s leading public broadcaster, the SABC champions local storytelling and supports the growth of the advertising and communications industry.

ENDS

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries:   Mmoni Ngubane (Head of Communications)

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

Thursday 02 October 2025, Johannesburg – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Enver Groenewald as Chief Commercial Officer, effective 1 October 2025.

The introduction of the Chief Commercial Officer role marks a significant evolution in the Corporation’s strategic approach to revenue generation. This executive role replaces the former Group Executive: Sales portfolio and reflects the SABC’s determination to broaden and integrate all aspects of its commercial operations in line with the organisation’s five-year strategy to build long-term financial sustainability.

Enver Groenewald will oversee not only advertising and sponsorship sales, but also television licence fee collections, alternative revenue streams, partnerships, and new commercial opportunities. This consolidated mandate ensures a holistic approach to driving revenue growth and future-fit business practices that can secure the SABC’s role as a sustainable public broadcaster.

“The appointment of a Chief Commercial Officer signals a new chapter in the way we approach revenue generation. This is not just a title change, it is a strategic shift to ensure every commercial lever works together in delivering value for the Corporation and for our stakeholders,” said Nomsa Chabeli, Group Chief Executive Officer of the SABC.

Enver Groenewald brings more than two decades of leadership experience across media, advertising, classical marketing, and digital transformation in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. His leadership journey includes senior executive roles such as Africa Director for Media, Marketing Capabilities, and Digital Transformation at Unilever; Group Chief Executive Officer at Ogilvy South Africa; Chief Executive Officer at Interbrand Southern Africa; General Manager: Revenue at Avusa (now Arena Holdings); and Chief Executive Officer of Ochre Media.

Throughout his career, Enver has successfully led complex, high-value portfolios in highly competitive industries, consistently driving sustainable value creation through innovation-led strategies, high-performance teams, and people-first cultures.

In addition to his corporate achievements, he has contributed extensively to the broader business landscape, serving on multiple industry boards and publishing thought leadership on competitiveness and leadership in purpose-led, future-fit organisations.

“I am honoured to join the SABC at such a pivotal time in its journey,” said Enver Groenewald. “The new Chief Commercial Officer mandate provides a powerful platform to reimagine how we deliver value to our audiences, our clients, and the country at large. I look forward to working with the team to unlock the full commercial potential of the SABC and to help secure its sustainability for the future.”

This appointment also supports the Corporation’s ongoing transformation of its sales operating model, ensuring the SABC is agile, competitive, and aligned with industry best practice.

The SABC Board and Management are confident that under Enver’s leadership, the commercial portfolio will play a pivotal role in realising the organisation’s mandate to inform, educate, and entertain, while ensuring financial sustainability in a rapidly changing media landscape.

Ends.

Issued by Group Communications