Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi has defended his decision to withdraw the SABC Funding Bill, saying all required processes of parliament were followed.

The bill suggests a delayed funding model, giving the minister time to develop a sustainable framework.

The Bill was withdrawn in November last year.

Malatsi has cited concerns that the current bill doesn’t address the financial stability of the public broadcaster.

“We follow every process of Parliament that is required to withdraw that Bill. There were some concerns particularly with the structure of the GNU as it is and I have engaged the Deputy President on the matter through the intervention that he sorted – the intervention is still currently before Cabinet.”

“But our commitment is to make sure that whatever intervention is being made towards the SABC, it must answer the fundamental question – does it help position the SABC’s financial model? It needs to be sustainable financially,” adds Malatsi.

Last month, the SOS Coalition, Media Monitoring Africa, the South African National Editors’ Forum, and the Campaign for Free Expression jointly addressed letters to the Speaker of the National Assembly, President Cyril Ramaphosa, and other key figures.

The organisations raised concerns over the Speaker’s failure to gazette the withdrawal of the bill.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s oversight committee asserted earlier this year that Minister Malatsi’s decision was unconstitutional. Additionally, some critics fear the Bill could open the door to political interference at the public broadcaster.

‘Migration delays cost R1.2 billion’

Meanwhile, the Communications and Digital Technology Minister says the delay in digital migration from analogue broadcasting has cost the government R1.2 billion over the past decade.

The Minister has also emphasised that further delays will exacerbate the financial burden, as the maintenance costs of both analogue and digital towers continue to rise. The matter regarding the extension of the 31st of this month deadline to switch off analogue is being challenged in the High Court in Pretoria.

The country’s journey to switch from analogue to digital broadcasting has been ongoing for about two decades. Along the way, several ministers have come and left, but none of them delivered on the critical project. The deadline of the end of this month for the country to stop using analogue, is being challenged in the High Court. The ruling on the matter is expected next Thursday.

Malatsi says the government’s position is that the analogue must be switched off by the end of this month.

“We are now in the situation where the government cannot afford to have analogue switch on in operation because simply the costs of keeping digital and analogue signals have become very expensive for the government. In fact, since 2014 it has cost the government over 1,2 billion. As government, we are law-abiding and we respect the courts but we will see what the court says on Thursday but from government position the position is that analogue switch-off will proceed at the end of this month.”