Parliament Pressures Malatsi to Fast-Track SABC Bill

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has urged Minister Solly Malatsi to expedite the passing of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Bill, warning that further delays could cripple the public broadcaster.

The Bill, which has been stalled for months following Malatsi’s earlier indication that it might be withdrawn, has been described by the committee as constitutionally necessary.

Committee chairperson Khusela Sangoni-Diko cautioned that the SABC may struggle to operate beyond December if urgent intervention is not provided.

“You’re running a multi-billion-rand corporation and only receiving about R193 million from the fiscus, which is a drop in the ocean. Globally, public broadcasters are funded by the fiscus. For the SABC to refresh its infrastructure and technology alone, government would need to invest at least between R1.5 and R2.5 billion,” Sangoni-Diko stressed.

However, concerns remain over the current version of the Bill. Media Monitoring Africa director William Bird argued that the proposed structures will not adequately address the SABC’s long-standing challenges.

Bird noted that Malatsi has initiated a tender process to explore a new financial model for the broadcaster, describing this step as “critical” to ensuring its sustainability.

The fate of the SABC Bill now rests on whether the minister heeds Parliament’s call to fast-track its passage.