Johannesburg– Sunday, 6 October 2024- The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) 2023/24 Annual Report has been tabled in Parliament.

The SABC has achieved a significant milestone in terms of the Auditor General of South Africa audit outcomes. For the first time since the FY2009/2010 financial period, the Corporation has obtained an unqualified audit opinion.

The unqualified audit opinion was made possible by the focused attention to financial disciplines and to institutionalising good governance throughout the Corporation. The success of this process is evidenced by the number of audit qualification areas that have been successfully addressed and consistently adhered to.

Ms Nomsa Chabeli, Group Chief Executive Officer stated that “I am proud that the SABC has achieved another significant milestone on our journey of recovery, renewal and growth. Our unqualified audit opinion follows on a number of recent achievements including our much-lauded Election coverage, the relaunch and rapid audience growth of our SABC+ streaming platform as well as our content partnerships with leading global and local media houses. The SABC is an iconic broadcast media asset in South Africa, with the largest audience and geographic reach. Re-invigorated and focused behind our new 2025-2030 strategy, we continue to be South Africa’s most trusted media brand as we entertain, educate inform and empower our audiences”.

Other key financial highlights during this period included:

• An increase of 7% of Advertising revenue from the previous financial year,
• A decrease of 4% of Total operating expenses when compared to the prior year,
• A decrease of 77% of the Loss before Interest and tax of R192 million from R827 million in the previous year, and
• The cost of the unfunded public interest mandate is estimated to be R834 million. Securing government funding for this mandate remains an important priority for the SABC and is an important priority area in the SABC Bill currently under review.

The ten (10) year trend, reflects, the Net Loss before Interest and Tax, having improved from a low of R1 1143 million in FY2017 to R 192 million in FY2024. In addition, the loss before Interest and tax decreased by R634 million, year on year between FY2023 and FY2024.

Chief Financial Officer, Ms Yolande van Biljon: “Despite financial sustainability challenges, the Corporation executed its mandate diligently and passionately. Achieving an unqualified opinion, a first in 14 years, reflects the strategic journey the SABC has undertaken to strengthen its internal control environment, its compliance with legislation, expenditure management, governance and oversight.”

In line with broadcasters around the world, the SABC’s audience share has been impacted by the migration of audiences to global streaming platforms. A decline in audience share from a high of 46% in FY2016 continues to negatively impact the SABC’s ability to grow its revenue streams. This is illustrated by the R2 billion decline in revenue since FY2016, whilst revenue year on year has remained mostly flat since FY2021.

Another global trend felt locally by the SABC is a decline in TV license fee revenue. This continues on a downward trajectory despite numerous innovative initiatives that continue to be rolled out. As audiences migrate to consuming content across a range of screens other than television screens, the relevance of this form of license fee continues to be questioned media experts as well as by the public. Levels of license fee non-compliance have continued to decline as households afford it a low priority in times of economic hardship and the reality is also that compliance cannot be enforced. The non-compliance rate increased to 85.60% in FY2024. Going forward, focused attention will continue to be directed towards new equitable financial models for funding the SABC’s public interest mandate.

The impact of actuarial valuations on post-employment benefits since FY2020 has given rise to the negative equity reported in the Statement of Financial Position as of 31 March 2024.

The SABC’s ability to meet its obligations in the next 12 months remains a material uncertainty and requires the ongoing implementation of severe austerity measures including but not limited to the suspension of more than 80% of the long-term Capital Plan and a limitation of investment in content. It must be noted that virtually no funding is currently available for any capital investment in innovation, infrastructure and technology.

In the year under review, financial constraints hampered efforts to fully meet mandate content delivery for linear television. However, the overall offering, appeal and reach of SABC content remains strong. The relaunch, strong audience growth and exciting future plans for the development of the SABC Plus streaming platform continues to be a positive indicator of future success.

In terms of the radio portfolio, all SABC radio stations achieved 100% of genre quotas and 100% local music quotas, as set by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). To demonstrate the power of the news and current affairs division, the top ten news broadcasts in the country all came from SABC News, indicating South African people’s preference for receiving news and for expressing themselves in their own languages. The dedicated SABC News channel was recorded as the No. 1 news channel (FTA and Satellite) during the year under review and attained 1 billion + SABC News YouTube channel views.

The SABC remains a bastion of neutrality and impartiality, as comprehensively demonstrated during its extensive and widely praised coverage of the 2024 national elections. Nomsa Chabeli added that “The SABC is a vital foundation for democracy in our Country, reliably offering up sustained coverage of a diverse range of political viewpoints and perspectives”. 

The Corporation also played a pivotal role as a social entity within the diverse South African communities that it serves. During the period under review, the SABC’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) prioritised fulfilling its core mandate of giving back to society through its strategic partnerships with SABC platforms and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). These collaborations were in response to an escalating need for public awareness and targeted information around various challenges that threaten social stability, such as Gender-Based Violence, rape, poverty and child-headed households. A total of R15.2 million worth of airtime was invested in Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to assist NGOs in disseminating messages aimed at creating awareness and empowering citizens with valuable information.

The Chairperson of the Board, Mr. Khathutshelo Ramukumba, concludes that “As the Board we are grateful for the support that the public and the multitude of stakeholders we engage with, have given the public broadcaster throughout the FY2023/24. To fulfil a public mandate as demanding as the SABC’s is not an easy task and we can assure the South African public that the hard work and dedication by the Executive management and all staff members has begun bearing fruits. We are confident that as we continue to implement business enabling strategies and further capacitate key divisions within the business, we will continue to show a steady improvement”.

Ends

Issued By:                              Group Communications

Media Enquiries:                   Mmoni Seapolelo (Manager: Media Relations

Seapolelomv@sabc.co.za T. 011 714 3057| C. 073 688 1590SABC AR 2024SABC AR 2024

Johannesburg-Saturday, 02 October 2021 – SABC Sport will host a series of exciting activations ahead of the 2021/22 Bundesliga match between Bayern Munich vs Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, the 3rd of October 2021 at 17h00.
The festivities at the Deutsche Internationale Schule in Johannesburg will kick off at 13h00 with the SABC Sport Soccer Star Clinic. The two-hour soccer developmental clinic will offer future soccer stars between the ages of six (6) and sixteen (16) years an opportunity to train with one of South Africa’s leading soccer talent, Delron Buckley. The young players will refine their soccer skills through a games-centred teaching approach that enhances each player’s techniques and ultimate desire to excel in the game.
SABC Sport will also host an outdoor Public Viewing Area (PVA) where SABC stakeholders and guests will be treated to a musical performance by the Deutsche Internationale Schule students as they celebrate their German culture with a Mzansi meets Germany music extravaganza. These activities coincide with the last day of OktoberFest. Oktoberfest is an annual festival in Munich, Germany, held over a two-week period and ending on the first Sunday in October.
The public can catch this match live on SABC Sport Channel on Openview Channel 124, DTT platform and TelkomOne platform.
For more information about the SABC Sport www.sabc.co.za or follow the SABC Sport social media channels: Twitter – @SPORTATSABC; Facebook – @SABCSport and Instagram – @sabcsport
 
END
_____________________________________________
About SABC
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is South Africa’s only public service broadcaster, established 85 years ago, in 1936. The corporation currently boasts nineteen (19) radio stations and six (6) television channels and has aggressively expanded its platforms to include digital platforms, reflecting the changing consumption patterns of its audiences. In 2013, the Corporation launched its 24-hour SABC News Channel 404, which has fast become a market leader since its inception. The SABC News division further extended its services to online and digital platforms with the launch of the SABC News App in 2019. The corporation launched its 24-Hour Sports Channel in April 2021 on the Openview platform, channel 124.The Sports Channel is also available on the SABC’s DTT service and TelkomONE’s mobile platform. In its commitment to fulfilling its mandate, the SABC will continue to play a critical role in ensuring that nation-building and social cohesion are promoted by acquiring and scheduling content that reflects South African stories on its radio, television and digital platforms.
 
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      

Access to information has taken on a new meaning for the deaf audience of Ukhozi FM this Heritage month. The medium of Radio, traditionally reserved for hearing citizens, became accessible to the deaf community through a new SABC innovation that aims to discharge its public service mandate of serving a diverse society. Through this initiative, the SABC has ensured that its programming across its radio, television, and digital platforms, reaches a larger part of the society irrespective of their geographical location, socio-economic status, age, disability, and the language they speak.
Throughout history, public service broadcasting has been a vehicle through which citizens are informed on a variety of subjects and acquire knowledge and information which enables them to participate in the democratic system of our country. Most public service broadcasters (PSB) around the world draw their mandate from the Reithian public service broadcasting philosophies which indicate that public broadcasters must provide services that are aimed at informing, educating, and entertaining the citizens. Therefore, public broadcasters including the SABC are mandated to maximize serving all citizens in a democracy to ensure that citizens have access to and participate in public life.  The initiative by Ukhozi FM to integrate sign language into its programming is in place to ensure that the programmes offered by PSB institution are tailor-made for the diverse tastes and interests of the people.
This initiative is a ground-breaking effort as never in the history of public broadcasting in South Africa has a Radio station integrated sign language in its programming to ensure inclusivity of its diverse audience. Furthermore, Ukhozi FM has created a new radio audience that has never experienced radio before, utilizing social media as an enabler. It is therefore imperative that the SABC continuously amplifies its efforts to ensure that none of the members of the society are left behind. According to the South African National Deaf Association (SANDA), an advocacy organization with a role of promoting and advancing the rights of Deaf people, there are over more than four million deaf citizens in South Africa, until recently have had limited access to radio broadcasting.
In line with the SABC’s Editorial Policies which govern SABC programming on a wide range of issues including stereotyping and discrimination, race, gender, disability, violence, audience advisories, privacy, dignity and reputation, and children, Ukhozi FM’s 12:00-15:00 show, ‘Kanye Nawe’ is a culmination of the SABCs’ #Disability360 intervention which mandates the public broadcaster’s content to be inclusive of people living with disabilities. Each Friday, a professional interpreter joins the last hour of the show dedicated to hosting artist interviews and tackling disability issues. The artist’s interview is then broadcast on Ukhozi FM’s social media platforms of Facebook LIVE and the interpreter’s Instagram Live.  To date, Ukhozi FM LIVE page attracts 300- 500 viewers and the numbers reach up to 30 thousand viewers after the interview post is saved on the timeline. The numbers are growing exponentially, demonstrating the need for such programming in the community. This new audience group for Ukhozi FM comprises of an international deaf audience and attracts people of all races.
Central to the overall programming across all SABC platforms is broadcasting to meet the needs of all audiences and empower the South African citizenry at large.  The SABC has set the highest of editorial standards, incorporating the values and principles of the South African Constitution, the requirements of the broadcasting legislation and policies and most importantly, the expectations of its audiences. The public service broadcaster will continue to ensure the successful delivery of important statutory obligations that have been bestowed upon it by the broadcasting legislation framework.

Johannesburg – Tuesday, 28 September 2021 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) can confirm that the Sheriff of the Court of the North West province, has today executed an eviction order for the residential properties known as the BOP Flats, owned by the public service broadcaster in Mahikeng, North West province.
The SABC is in the process of disposing all its non-core assets, the bulk of which are residential properties owned by the public broadcaster in various provinces, including the North West province.
This eviction follows a final Court order granted in favour of the SABC by the Court on 20 August 2021 after numerous court applications were instituted by the illegal occupants in an attempt to halt the eviction process.
In light of the Court Order of 20 August 2021, the Sheriff of the Court has now proceeded to execute the eviction process of the illegal occupants of the BOP Flats.
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

Bloemfontein – Tuesday, 21 September – In an effort to upscale the vaccination drive in the province, the Free State Department of Health is collaborating with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and launching a drive through and walk-in vaccination site at the SABC Bloemfontein Office Park at the Corner of Kellner and Markgraff Street on Tuesday, 21 September 2021.
The SABC’s office park in Westdene is conveniently located in an accessible area that’s close to residential areas, office parks and it also serves as a walkway where many domestic workers who may not easily access vaccination sites during working hours will now be able to visit.  The site will operate from Tuesday the 21st of September from 9h00 to 15h00 and 08h30 – 16h30 on Wednesday, the 22^nd and Thursday the 23^rd of September 2021.
The Provincial department of Health is providing the vaccination infrastructure and medical resources to ensure a safe and Covid compliant administration process, and the SABC is providing an easily accessible location.  Anyone 18 and above is invited to visit the vaccination site to get their jab. The staff from the department of Health will register and vaccinate people on the spot.
#Hareyengvaccination.
END
 
Issued jointly by the Free State Department of Health and the SABC.
For further enquiries, please contact:
Mondli Mvambi, Spokesperson: Free State Department of Health, 082 043 3744
and / or
Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)
NtuliGM@sabc.co.za|T. 011 714 3311|C. 071 877 0513
____________________________________________________
About SABC
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is South Africa’s only public service broadcaster, established 85 years ago, in 1936. The corporation currently boasts nineteen (19) radio stations and six (6) television channels and has aggressively expanded its platforms to include digital platforms, reflecting the changing consumption patterns of its audiences. In 2013, the Corporation launched its 24-hour SABC News Channel 404, which has fast become a market leader since its inception. The SABC News division further extended its services to online and digital platforms with the launch of the SABC News App in 2019. The corporation launched its 24-Hour Sports Channel in April 2021 on the Openview platform, channel 124.The Sports Channel is also available on the SABC’s DTT service and TelkomONE’s mobile platform. In its commitment to fulfilling its mandate, the SABC will continue to play a critical role in ensuring that nation-building and social cohesion are promoted by acquiring and scheduling content that reflects South African stories on its radio, television and digital platforms.
 
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      

Cape Town-Tuesday, 21 September 2021- The South African Broadcasting Corporation in the (SABC) Western Cape will celebrate Heritage Day this Thursday, and listeners are invited to join for the ride.  In celebrating the country’s collective heritage, SABC radio stations Good Hope FM, Radio Sonder Grense (RSG), and Umhlobo Wenene FM will take listeners on a journey through time.  The celebration themed, “the incidental Tourist” will take the form of a live travelling broadcast across the three platforms, sharing the rich history of the City’s key locations with listeners.
 
The broadcast will kick-off in the morning, with live crossings throughout the day offering a multi-lingual and tailored experience for listeners.  The route of discovery will take “passengers” to Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum, which tells the story of the Bo-Kaap’s origins dating back to the 1760s when numerous “huurhuisjes” (rental houses) were built and leased to slaves known as Cape Malays.
 
Another historic site that listeners can anticipate is District 6 where over 60,000 of its inhabitants were forcibly removed by the apartheid regime. Their story of suffering and dispossession has turned into a story of triumph as people are returning to their land from which they were evicted many years ago when it was deemed a “whites only” area.   Listeners can anticipate other iconic points of interest that reflect the rich heritage of the city, and the people who live in and around it.
 
Western Cape Regional Operations Manager, Kenneth Makatees says “unlike any other entity in the region, the SABC platforms in the Cape have the ability to reflect the breadth and depth of our regional diversity and heritage.  This year’s heritage journey is a prime example of how the national public broadcaster can use its platforms to reach millions of listeners, in their own languages to share a common history”.
 
The public is encouraged to tune into any of the three (3) SABC stations and experience the Cape like never before and discover what makes this region one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and across the globe.
 
#SABCHeritage2021
Media are welcome to join the tour:
Contact:  Ms. Che Che Mazoka, Regional Communications/Stakeholder
mazokacc@sabc.co.za
076 893 1909
____________________________________________________
About SABC
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is South Africa’s only public service broadcaster, established 85 years ago, in 1936. The corporation currently boasts nineteen (19) radio stations and six (6) television channels and has aggressively expanded its platforms to include digital platforms, reflecting the changing consumption patterns of its audiences. In 2013, the Corporation launched its 24-hour SABC News Channel 404, which has fast become a market leader since its inception. The SABC News division further extended its services to online and digital platforms with the launch of the SABC News App in 2019. The corporation launched its 24-Hour Sports Channel in April 2021 on the Openview platform, channel 124.The Sports Channel is also available on the SABC’s DTT service and TelkomONE’s mobile platform. In its commitment to fulfilling its mandate, the SABC will continue to play a critical role in ensuring that nation-building and social cohesion are promoted by acquiring and scheduling content that reflects South African stories on its radio, television and digital platforms.
 
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    

ROYALTY SOAPIE AWARDS WINNERS FROM SABC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Platfontein-Friday, 17 September 2021 –  The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) radio stations will unite to celebrate XK-FM’s 21 years in radio and to keep the heritage of the !Xun and Khwe  alive during heritage month, and beyond.
Starting Monday September 20^th through to 26^th September, six (6) African Language SABC radio stations will carry a 3-5min simulcast broadcast of XK-FM at various points throughout the day.  This exposure is designed to give listeners an opportunity to hear and learn more about the !Xu and Khwe languages and culture.
Both digital and on–air crossings will take place on Motsweding FM, Munghana Lonene FM, Ukhozi FM, Tru-FM, Ikwekwezi FM and Umhlobo Wenene FM.  The radio platforms will also showcase XK-FM’s digital banners and audio translations of typical phrases in !Xu  and Khwe languages.
XK-FM is the only radio station in the country that supports the! Xu and Khe languages of the indigenous San people.
“XK-FM is one of the SABC’s most prized possessions” says Northern Cape Regional Operations Manager Refiloe Maraka. “It truly is the lifeline of the community it serves in Platfontein.  The station is a prime example of the value that the SABC brings to its listeners as it entertains and informs and perhaps even more importantly, preserves the languages and heritage of our most marginalized and vulnerable communities” he adds. “We encourage listeners across the country to take this opportunity to learn a phrase or two and use it when they come and visit our beautiful region.”
XK-FM’s maiden broadcast on 18th of August 2000 was launched from a stationary container in Schmidt’s drift in the Northern Cape.  The hours of operation at the time were 06:00 to 13h00 which is a far cry from today’s schedule which broadcasts for 15hrs a day in both languages from its current home in Platfontein.
 
For the complete schedule of the times of the live crossings to XK-FM from the various radio stations visit www.sabc.co.za
#SABCHeritage2021
END
____________________________________________________
About SABC
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is South Africa’s only public service broadcaster, established 85 years ago, in 1936. The corporation currently boasts nineteen (19) radio stations and six (6) television channels and has aggressively expanded its platforms to include digital platforms, reflecting the changing consumption patterns of its audiences. In 2013, the Corporation launched its 24-hour SABC News Channel 404, which has fast become a market leader since its inception. The SABC News division further extended its services to online and digital platforms with the launch of the SABC News App in 2019. The corporation launched its 24-Hour Sports Channel in April 2021 on the Openview platform, channel 124.The Sports Channel is also available on the SABC’s DTT service and TelkomONE’s mobile platform. In its commitment to fulfilling its mandate, the SABC will continue to play a critical role in ensuring that nation-building and social cohesion are promoted by acquiring and scheduling content that reflects South African stories on its radio, television and digital platforms.
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, 09 September 2021 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), is pleased to announce the recognition received by several of its radio stations, television properties and on-air personalities at this year’s Sunday Times GenNext Awards, which were announced today and  hosted by 5FM’s “it” girl – Zanele Potelwa.
The Sunday Times GenNext Awards are the leading measure of what South African youth from age 8 – 23 find trendy and aspirational and offer valuable youth consumer behaviour to brand managers, advertisers and marketing professionals.
SABC Radio dominated the coolest radio category with Ukhozi FM voted third coolest Radio brand, Umhlobo Wenene FM second, and for the ninth consecutive year, Metro FM is the coolest radio station in South Africa. 5fm, Lesedi FM and Radio 2000 also formed part of the shortlist of radio stations voted as being cool by South African youth.

• Coolest Radio Stations 2021

1. METRO FM (METRO FM has claimed the number one position for the 9th consecutive year).
2. Umhlobo Wenene FM
3. Ukhozi FM

The SABC also featured strongly in other categories  and ranked as  follows:

• Coolest TV/streaming/content/channels/platforms 2021

7. SABC

• Coolest Local TV Programmes/series 2021

3. Uzalo
4. 7de Laan
5. Skeem Saam
6. Generations

• Coolest Cartoon Shows

3. Dragonball Z

• Coolest Local Radio DJ 2021 – New

3. Dineo Ranaka
4. DJ Mo Flava
5. Lerato Kganyago/ LKG
6. DJ Sqemeza

• Digital Learning platform 2021 – New

7. SABC 1 Learning

SABC Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing, Ms. Gugu Ntuli stated “As an organisation we are excited by the recognition that our brands and programming have received at this year’s installment of the GenNext Awards. It is evident that South African youth resonate with our content and what our brands represent and it is encouraging to see that the consistent hard work and dedication  of our radio stations and television channels is paying off.
Ms. Ntuli further stated “the awards are also a testament to the diverse content that the SABC has to offer, with programmes such as SABC 2’s 7 de Laan to SABC 1’s highly popular youth drama Skeem Saam placing in the public votes. The SABC will continue to strive to bring South Africans programming that is informative, educative and indeed entertaining”.
ENDS
About SABC
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is South Africa’s only public service broadcaster, established 85 years ago, in 1936. The corporation currently boasts nineteen (19) radio stations and six (6) television channels and has aggressively expanded its platforms to include digital platforms, reflecting the changing consumption patterns of its audiences. In 2013, the Corporation launched its 24-hour SABC News Channel 404, which has fast become a market leader since its inception. The SABC News division further extended its services to online and digital platforms with the launch of the SABC News App in 2019. The corporation launched its 24-Hour Sport Channel in April 2021 on the Openview platform, channel 124.The Sports Channel is also available on the SABC’s DTT service and TelkomONE’s mobile platform. In its commitment to fulfilling its mandate, the SABC it will continue to play a critical role in ensuring that nation-building and social cohesion is promoted by acquiring and scheduling content that reflects South African stories on its radio, television and digital platforms.
ENDS
Issued By:                          Corporate Affairs and Marketing
 
Media Enquiries:                 Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)
NtuliGM@sabc.co.za|T. 011 714 3311|C. 071 877 0513