Sabc bailout
Cosatu calls for SABC board to step down after asking for COVID-19 relief
The SABC has asked Treasury for R1.5 billion in COVID-19 relief but government is yet to respond to the request.
Government's Communications Department in October approved a R3.2 billion bailout from National Treasury for the SABC.
Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said the SABC would look at at a number of ways to generate revenue, as well as doing away with unnecessary costs.
News of the SABC’s improved annual performance comes just over a week after the public broadcaster received the first R2.1 billion of its National Treasury bailout.
In a Facebook post, The Kiffness' David Scott said that he paid his TV licence, even though he didn't watch the SABC, and was now calling on the broadcaster to return the favour by paying royalty licenses.
The struggling public broadcaster was given a lifeline last week with Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams announcing that it would receive a partial bailout of R2.1 billion.
Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni Abrahams announced earlier on Friday that R3.2 billion will be will be granted to the cash-strapped public broadcaster.
The bailout money for the SABC, Denel and SAA would come from the contingency reserve account but Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said it came with strings attached.
On Sunday, the 'Sunday Times' reported that the cash-strapped public broadcaster planned on shedding its staff by 33% as part of its turnaround strategy.
On Sunday, it was reported that Finance Minister Tito Mboweni turned down the public broadcaster’s application for the much needed R3.2 billion government-guaranteed financing.
The Communications Department was working with National Treasury to see whether the public broadcaster, which was facing major financial woes, could be granted a bailout.
The public broadcaster is facing major financial woes with fears it may not be able to pay salaries in June.
The public broadcaster had to tighten its belt last month by paying salaries at the expense of having several unpaid bills.