A proposed restructuring of South Africa’s public broadcaster SABC by the country’s Communications & Digital Technology parliamentary committee has been stopped by the nation’s Communications minister Solly Malatsi. The move has led to criticism that the proposal will “sound the death knell” for the broadcaster.SABC is widely understood to be near-bankruptcy.The complaints are headed by Khuselo Diko, the chairwoman of the parliamentary committee, although there have been criticisms from independent broadcasters and civil society groups that the proposal was a rehash of old ideas.“While appreciative of the fact that as the executive authority, the minister may rescind the bill for whatever reason before its second reading in the house, the chairperson (Diko) holds that this decision by the minister [is] highly ill-advised, and it is no exaggeration to say it [will] sound the death knell for the SABC,” Diko’s statement said.“To withdraw the bill at this stage means to delay the implementation of crucial reforms necessary to save yet another crucial and strategic public institution. Initiated by the government in 2018 and only introduced to parliament in October 2023, the SABC Bill seeks to, among other things, provide for the continued existence of the SABC,” Diko stated.Diko defended her view, saying: “To date, the bill has undergone a thorough public participation process, with the sixth parliament having received about 20 written submissions from the SABC itself, academia, youth representatives, organised labour and other interested parties. The seventh parliament, understanding the urgent challenges facing the public broadcaster, prioritised this critical legislation and held oral hearings into the submissions in September 2024.”“In the meantime, the Committee will invite the minister to indicate how, in the interim, the financial situation at the public broadcaster will be improved to ensure sustainability until this much-needed legislation is amended and the issues attendant to it are resolved. Failure to reintroduce the bill timeously will leave individual members of the committee or the committee itself with no option but to entertain introducing a committee or private members’ bill in the best interest of the SABC for consideration by parliament,” concluded Diko.
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