Communications and Digital Technologies committee expected to move ahead with SABC Bill
The legislation is one of 12 bills before the National Assembly that were recently revived after lapsing at the end of the 6th Parliament.
Picture: Zaian via Wikimedia Commons
CAPE TOWN - The Communications and Digital Technologies committee is expected to move ahead with the controversial SABC Bill when members of Parliament (MPs) return to the National Assembly.
The legislation is one of 12 bills before the National Assembly that were recently revived after lapsing at the end of the sixth Parliament.
The SABC Bill proposes reforms in the SABC’s funding model and TV licensing system, including a levy for all households.
The SABC Bill is one of several bills that MPs will have to consider and pass after the recess.
Once passed into law, the bill will result in the repeal of the current Broadcasting Act.
The legislation will also bring with it a new funding model for the struggling broadcaster with a new subsidiary company and a new board to manage commercial television and radio stations.
The bill also introduces a “household” or public service levy for each household to deal with the non-payment of TV licences.
But media organisations, including the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) and Media Monitoring Africa, said earlier that the bill offered no funding solution and instead, it provides for the minister to take three years to develop a funding framework.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), meanwhile, wants public hearings to determine whether South Africa needs a public broadcaster and if not, it must be broken up into various commercial entities and sold to the highest bidder.