Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi announced that a revised version of the SABC Bill is set to be presented in Parliament after April 2026.

“The revised version of the South African Broadcasting Corporation SOC Ltd Bill, which will incorporate the new funding model, is envisaged to be tabled in Parliament during the course of the 2026/27 financial year,” Malatsi said.

He revealed the timeline in response to a parliamentary inquiry from ANC MP Tshegofatso Meagan Chauke-Adonis, who sought clarity on the bill’s tabling and the steps being taken to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the SABC.

Malatsi withdrew the controversial bill from Parliament in 2024, arguing that it did not address a sustainable funding model for the SABC, among other things.

The portfolio committee had deemed his action ill-advisable and minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni claimed that he had not followed cabinet process to withdraw it.

Malatsi told Chauke-Adonis that the development of the SABC funding model has been prioritised for the 2025/2026 financial year.

“The plan is to revise the SABC Bill to fully incorporate the new funding model during the 2026/2027 financial year, ensuring alignment with the national broadcaster’s mandate,” he said.

Malatsi also said the department enlisted the services of BMI TechKnowledge Group last September, to develop a suitable and sustainable funding model for the SABC following a tender process.

This initiative includes evaluation of the public broadcaster’s existing revenue streams, exploration of alternative revenue sources and consulting stakeholders to come up with a practical solution.

The presentation of the new funding model is anticipated for February 2026.

Upon approval, it will be integrated into the forthcoming SABC Bill.

Malatsi said the primary challenge facing the SABC was the absence of a sustainable funding model, compounded by historical difficulties in collecting TV licence fees.

“The development of a new funding model is therefore vital for the State broadcaster’s long-term financial sustainability,” he said when responding to Khusela Diko-Sangoni, the ANC MP and chairperson of Communications and Digital Technologies Portfolio Committee.

Efforts to address the SABC’s mounting debt include reprioritisation of R13 million in the department’s 2023/24 budget to assist with payment of Sentech.

Additionally, R154.746m has been reclassified from the government grant to support the broadcaster’s financial needs.

Malatsi also said his department was assisting the SABC in recovering outstanding TV licence fees from government departments and local authorities.

“The Minister has also directly engaged all affected government entities requesting that all outstanding amounts be urgently paid to the SABC.

“In support of revenue generation, the Ministry and the department have facilitated targeted engagements with the Government Communicators Forum and the Forum of South African Directors General to encourage increased utilisation of SABC platforms by state departments for public communication campaigns.”

Malatsi added that a joint task team comprising of the department, the SABC, and the National Treasury has been established to investigate funding solutions and specific financial interventions.

“The department continues to support SABC’s funding requests to the National Treasury through both standard and adjustment budget processes.”

Malatsi told EFF MP Sixolise Gcilishe that his department has supported and facilitated the SABC’s funding request of R4.7 billion through the 2026/2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) budget cycle.

This request included a concurrent request of R1.72 billion via the 2025/2026 MTEF budget adjustment process to cover urgent capital expenditure and local elections.

“National Treasury did not approve these funding requests,” he said.

However, Malatsi said the SABC was ultimately awarded a total in grant funding of R727m for Channel Africa, public broadcaster, and programme production across the 2026/27 to 2028/29 MTEF period.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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