- Urgent Need for Clarity on SABC Bill: Ms. Khusela Sangoni Diko calls on the Minister of Communications to clarify the future of the SABC Bill, warning that delays threaten the sustainability of South Africa’s public broadcasting sector.
- Historical Context and Process of the SABC Bill: The SABC Bill was introduced in the 6th Parliament, reintroduced in the 7th, and underwent public consultations, but progress stalled after the Minister indicated an intention to withdraw it.
- Procedural Challenges Hindering the Bill’s Progress: The withdrawal process is complicated by procedural rules preventing unilateral withdrawal by the Minister, necessitating additional consultations that have yet to produce progress.
- Parliament’s Response and Upcoming Deadline: The committee demands an update from the Minister by August 2025 and warns that if critical amendments and funding models are not addressed, processing will resume in the next parliamentary term.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Ms Khusela Sangoni Diko, has issued a stern call to the Minister of Communications for urgent clarity on the future of the SABC Bill, warning that further delays threaten the sustainability of South Africa’s public broadcasting sector.
Originally introduced in the 6th Parliament, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Bill was reintroduced in the 7th Parliament and underwent substantial public participation, including oral and written submissions. The department was expected to respond to these inputs by the end of 2024, but the process stalled after the Minister expressed an intention to withdraw the Bill.
The withdrawal was complicated by procedural rules, which prohibit a Minister from unilaterally withdrawing an Executive Bill. As a result, further consultations with the Speaker, Deputy President, and Cabinet were deemed necessary — but no substantive progress has followed.
“More than six months have passed, and yet the department shows no sense of urgency,” Ms Diko stated. “The Bill is stuck in Parliament while the SABC’s operational and financial crises grow more acute.”
The committee has now asked the Minister to provide an update on Cabinet consultations by Friday, 29 August 2025. Should the department fail to demonstrate progress on critical amendments and a sustainable funding model, Ms Diko said the committee will resume processing the Bill in the third parliamentary term, which starts on 2 September 2025.
Both the SABC and its signal distributor, Sentech, have repeatedly flagged the absence of a viable funding model as a root cause of their ongoing instability. Ms Diko stressed that Parliament has an obligation to act without delay.
“We will not allow red tape or ministerial indecision to jeopardise the future of public broadcasting,” she said.
