The Department of Communications has embarked on an urgent mission to develop a new sustainable funding model for the SABC, after Minister Solly Malatsi withdrew the contentious SABC Bill.
The decision has been welcomed by civil society organisations, who have pushed for it to be canned, but Malatsi has been criticized by Parliament.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Khusela Diko, says she noted with “grave concern” the decision of the Minister to withdraw the SABC Bill:
“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 holds that this decision by the minister is extremely ill-advised, and it is no exaggeration to say it sounds the death knell for the South African Broadcasting Corporation.”
Diko further states that this “trigger-happy” action serves no purpose but to frustrate and disrupt processes already underway.
Minister Malatsi has however argued that the Bill does not serve the long-term interests of the SABC or South Africans.
Malatsi says this follows extensive stakeholder consultation and a thorough review of public submissions.
“Most importantly, the current version does not adequately address the most important element regarding the SABC’s sustainability: a credible funding model that will steer the public broadcaster to success.”
The SABC Bill suggests a delayed funding model, giving the Minister three years to develop a sustainable framework.
Malatsi says this approach does not meet the urgency required to stabilise the broadcaster and risks perpetuating an “outdated licensing structure that will not provide the SABC with the necessary resources to fulfil its mandate.”
The Bill would also grant the Minister of Communications additional powers, including influence over board appointments, which risks eroding the broadcaster’s independence at a time when media freedom is more crucial than ever.
“Given these concerns, I believe that trying to amend the Bill is not the right path forward. Instead, the urgent development and implementation of a sustainable financial model for the SABC will be prioritised.”
An analyst in Media and Tech Policy, Michael Matkovitz, has called it a very good move by the Minister:
“The SABC Bill was so fundamentally flawed that it united a fractious industry in calling for its withdrawal. We now need a full policy and legislative reboot, prioritising the SABC funding model and new industry policy framework.”
The Director of Media Monitoring Africa William Bird says the decision to scrap the Bill is clear and rational. Following the Portfolio Committee’s criticism, Bird questioned why Parliament would want to rush a “patently poor Bill”, accusing Parliament of being “out of touch with reality.”
“…Among many of the problems with the Bill is that it offered precisely no means to address the financial issues of the SABC. We need to do policy white paper urgently!!”
An electronic communications lawyer Justine Limpitlaw has called on the Minister to draw in the expertise of civil society”
“Please let civil society assist you in driving broadband and broadcasting policy and law making. We have already done the groundwork and have draft SABC Acts and ECA and Film and Publication Amendment Acts ready to present to you. Workable, practical, READY TO GO!”
