Committee Report on Communications Budget

Meeting report

The Committee Content Adviser noted that even though the current State of the Nation Address (SONA) made little mention about the migration of television broadcasts from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT), the programme is one of leading government Information Communication Technology (ICT) related priority programmes with projected costs above R900 million until 2018. The latest report by the Department indicated progress. Key to this important programme is that government through the Department will provide free Set-Top-Boxes (STBs) to more than 5 million poor television household owners. This replaces the partial subsidy of 70% as previously approved in 2008. The issue of media transformation and the cost to communicate are other key programmes linked to the stability of the Department and as annotated in their strategic plan, these programmes must be prioritised because of the important role they play in supporting the work of the Department in addressing the legacy of the past.                                                                                                        

The Department had another department within its vote, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and the five entities reporting to it. The Department was allocated a budget of R1.3 billion for the 2016/17 financial year, and R1.4 billion for the 2017/18 financial years and R1.526 billion for the 2018/19 financial years. A total of R382.3 million of the total budget had been allocated to GCIS. Over the medium term, the board aims to protect children against premature exposure to adult experiences and harmful materials, particularly films, games and publications, through outreach programmes and public campaigns that focus on encouraging adults to foster responsible viewing, gaming and reading choices in their communities. This is expected to be achieved through industry and parent workshops that focus on child protection with regards to the internet. R31.8 million over the medium term is allocated to public awareness and education for these activities.

The Committee had congratulated the Minister of Communications on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) rollout. Members requested that DTT awareness programmes be shared with Members so as to assist when conducting oversight during the constituency period. Members also noted the performance agreements of Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) councillors and that this should become a normal practice for all entities reporting to the Department even though some of the entities do not have that legislative mandate. There was also a note on the progress that had been made by the Department and entities in meeting gender targets; however more remains to be done. In regard to South African Broadcast Corporation (SABC), the Committee congratulated the SABC for the TV licence fees collections; however arrears in the latter remain an obstacle for the progress in DTT project. Members expressed concern about the proposed ban on alcohol advertising will have financial impact on the SABC and will have an adverse impact on jobs. The Committee was impressed by SABC’s plan to produce local content in all languages.

The Committee recommended that the 2016/17 budget allocation of the Department and its entities be approved.

The Committee adopted the report with one amendment.

The meeting was adjourned.