Withdrawal of SABC Bill provides golden opportunity for new direction at broadcaster – AfriForum

Unless the government allows for the SABC to be privatised soon, the withdrawal of the SABC Bill (B32-2023), originally designed to address the television broadcaster’s structural, financial and operational challenges, only hastens the inevitable. This is why AfriForum urges the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, to use this opportunity to strike a new, bold path at the SABC – increased privatisation and scrapping of TV licenses.

Earlier this year the civil rights organisation submitted written as well as oral presentations to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, in which AfriForum pressed for increased privatisation and scrapping of TV licenses.

According to Ernst van Zyl, Head of Public Relations at AfriForum, the organisation shares the sentiments of Minister Malatsi that the Bill failed to address the SABC’s “fundamental need for a viable funding model”.

“Minister Malatsi and AfriForum are on the same page regarding the fact that the Bill’s approach risked perpetuating outdated funding mechanisms, such as the failed TV license model. The time is ripe for a new, alternative, non-state-centric approach. AfriForum hopes the Minister chooses wisely when crafting a new, sustainable funding model for the SABC – one that emphasises the importance of privatisation. It’s the only way to turn the crisis at the SABC around,” concludes Van Zyl.