Cartoon of the day: 13 August 2026
What do you think of the SABC's election budget needs?
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has stated that it requires approximately R120 million to deliver adequate coverage of this year's local government elections. This revelation was made in Parliament earlier this week. Nomsa Chabeli, chairperson of the SABC, explained that the funding would facilitate impartial and equitable coverage of all political parties, including independent candidates, and ensure that voters across the nation are reached.
It would also encompass various election-related requirements such as editorial operations, technology, results data, digital capabilities, and operational support.
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies expressed support for the funding proposal. Following discussions with the SABC, which provided insights into its preparedness to offer comprehensive election coverage, the committee concluded that the broadcaster needed an estimated R120 million to fulfill its election mandate effectively.
Chairperson Khusela Sangoni-Diko of the committee noted that the briefing highlighted the substantial financial resources required for the SABC to carry out its election coverage operations.
While some individuals accept the necessity of the coverage to bring election information and education to the entire country, others have expressed reservations about the cost, particularly in light of the current quality of the broadcaster's offerings.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
