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.

Johannesburg – Thursday, 05 September 2019 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has taken note of the allegations on social media platforms against some of its on-air talent who have been accused of allegedly perpetrating sexual violence against women.

Johannesburg – Monday, 02 September 2019 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) would like to announce that its Board Chairperson, Mr. Bongumusa Makhathini, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Madoda Mxakwe and Group Executive: News and Current Affairs, Ms. Phathiswa Magopeni will today be appearing before the Commission of Inquiry Into State Capture, which is chaired by Deputy Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo.

Johannesburg Sunday, 01 September 2019. The SABC Board has reaffirmed its utmost support and respect for the SABC’s Executive Directors who have done a sterling job thus far in very difficult circumstances. The Board will not be drawn into discussing internal board matters and alleged differences between Board members.

Johannesburg-Sunday, 01 September 2019-The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) would like to apologise for the disruption of broadcast services for all Johannesburg based radio stations between 07h00 and 08h00 this morning. The affected radio stations include METRO FM, 5FM, Radio 2000, SAFM and RSG.

Johannesburg – Friday, 30 August 2019 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce that Ms. Sylvia Tladi has been appointed the Acting Chief Operations Officer (ACOO) with immediate effect.

Johannesburg–Wednesday, 28 August 2019-The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is proud to announce that the audience measurement (RAM) survey released yesterday indicates a significant growth for some of the SABC radio stations for the period of January 2019 to June 2019. The survey indicates that the biggest radio station in the continent, Ukhozi FM, now reaches a weekly audience of 7.7 million (All adults 15+). This is the largest audience the isiZulu language station has recorded since 2016 when the Broadcast Research Council took over radio measurement.