SABC - The African Mirror

Oct

2023

“Our mission was to keep the lights on, fight corruption and save the SABC”

MATHATHA TSEDU THE SABC is not only our national public broadcaster, but it is also a National key point. As such security at the SABC is an important issue. In many countries, the security is done by the Defence Force and it is not unusual to find a military tank ala Gaza, parked outside a national broadcaster. MATHATHA TSEDU When I was appointed as a member of the Interim Board of the SABC by President Gedleyihlekisa Zuma in 2017, the corporation was almost on its knees. Our arrival was not shorn of drama as the then Minister of Communications, Faith…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Queen of South African TV celebrated

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THIRTY seven years ago she arrived at the South African Broadcasting Corporation as a typist, yesterday Noxolo Grootboom left as a legendary broadcaster, who even forced the president of the country to change his schedule to fit in with hers. When it became clear that Grootboom's last news bulletin would clash with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation, it was not the broadcaster who yielded but the head of state. Ramamposa said: “We decided to delay the start of this address to the nation by half an hour because a legend of South African broadcasting, Ms…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

South African broadcaster SABC delays job cuts plan by a week

MEDIA FREEDOM

THE South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is delaying a plan to lay off 600 employees by a week, following protests by some of its presenters and journalists, who have threatened a radio and TV blackout. The SABC is among a clutch of heavily indebted state-owned firms that President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised to wean off public funding. But this week the broadcaster's board said it needed at least 1 billion rand ($65 million) per annum to keep operations going, and that its plan to cut costs by lowering headcount was not yet working. "The Board of the SABC would like…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Turmoil at one of Africa’s largest broadcaster amid retrenchments

MEDIA FREEDOM

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), one of Africa’s biggest broadcasters, is pressing ahead with retrenchments which are expected to lead to over 450 media workers losing their jobs. The retrenchments have led to protest action by SABC employees and a disruption of the public broadcaster's service. Workers have also threatened a full blown strike which could lead to a total black out of TV and radio services on which millions of South Africans depend. On Tuesday, member of the SABC newsroom head a heated meeting with their boss - head of news Pathiswa Magopeni - who…