Tshidi Madia11 November 2024 | 5:44

Diko slams Malatsi's SABC Bill withdrawal move as trigger-happy and ill-advised

Commnications Minister Solly Malatsi withdrew the bill tabled by his predecessor, Mondli Gungubele, arguing it did not adequately address the SABC’s funding model, and would have given him too much power in the appointment of the broadcaster’s board.

Diko slams Malatsi's SABC Bill withdrawal move as trigger-happy and ill-advised

The South African Broadcast Corporation's (SABC) headquarters in Auckland Park, Johannesburg. Picture: Mike Powell/Wikimedia Commons

JOHANNESBURG - Chair of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications, Khusela Diko, has described a decision by Communications Minister Solly Malatsi to withdraw the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Bill as ill-advised.

Malatsi withdrew the bill tabled by his predecessor, Mondli Gungubele, who now serves as his deputy.

The minister argued it did not adequately address the SABC’s funding model, and would have given him too much power in the appointment of the broadcaster’s board. 

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The bill seeks to strengthen the SABC's operations, proposing among other changes the streamlining of the broadcaster's board, too boost responsibility and accountability. Reforms in the SABC's funding model and TV licencing system are also on the table.

Once passed into law, the bill will result in the repeal of the current Broadcasting Act.

Diko said challenges facing the public broadcaster required a considered and urgent response, and not trigger-happy action.

While civil society appear to have welcomed the withdrawal of the bill, which is said to have posed a threat to the SABC’s independence, Diko added the move signalled an imminent death for the public broadcaster.

She said the withdrawal of the bill would only frustrate and disrupt processes already underway.

Meanwhile, Gungubele, who clearly disagrees with the move, shared his thoughts on X.

Gungubele said canning the bill would be viewed as an attempt to delay the SABC’s capacity to be financially sound, transformative, and developmental.

He added that prolonging the financial stresses faced by the SABC could not be justified when the most controversial aspects of the bill had already been agreed upon.