SABC briefing

Meeting report

COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
21st September 1999
SABC BRIEFING

 

SABC's state of readiness for Corporatisation
Corporate Profile
Television Portfolio
Radio Portfolio

SUMMARY
The SABC briefed the committee on:
- The basic corporate structure of SABC which includes both a board appointed by the portfolio committee and a group executive that effectively runs operations.
- Television - how SABC is performing and who its audience is.
- Radio - who is SABC's audience and how much coverage do SABC provide (especially with regards to their Public Broadcasting Service stations).
- SABC's state of readiness for Corporatisation. This part of the presentation was based on a draft document that has yet to be seen by the SABC board or the minister. Its first discussion by the task committee on corporatisation would be that afternoon.
Many of the questions focused on the possible perception that the SABC remains the propagandist of the governing party.

MINUTES
The SABC made their presentation (see slide presentation above)

Questions to SABC
Ms O. Mndende (UDM): I am very concerned over SABC's language policy. Is it your intention to develop a nation of black Europeans? Are you intentionally trying to portray the superiority of English and inferiority of African languages to our children?
Response from Mr M. Mokgatle (Chief Executive: Television): SABC is committed and sensitive to the language issue. We are hosting committees of language groups and marginalised groups to address issues. However we have limited resources. It is very difficult to give substantial recognition to all eleven official languages and still generate revenue and quality programming.

Ms Mndende (UDM): I do not believe the figures on cultural and religious programming! I think that there is even less than these figures suggest. The SABC is not listening to people but simply imposing on people the programming that it thinks is best.
Response from Ms C. Mampane (Chief Executive: Radio): I think you perhaps misunderstood the figures given out. They showed the percentage of cultural and religious programming within the total SABC weekly programming and not the number of cultural and religious programmes available on SABC. We are currently meeting our target quotas in cultural and religious programming.
Response from Rev Gabriel Setiloane (SABC board member): I hold a seat on the board to promote traditional African culture and religion. We are focusing on ATR - African Traditional Religions. This tries to recognise the totality of religion in life. There have been noticeable changes in SABC programmes within the last year and this issue is receiving tremendous attention.

Mr C. Morkel (NNP): There is currently a perception in my party that the SABC is once again becoming the propagandists of the governing party. What is SABC doing to ensure that this perception does not become the view of the majority of people and to improve SABC's image amongst those who are outside the mainstream and the establishment?
Response from Mr Mbatha (Group Chief Executive): It is categorically untrue that we are the propagandists of government. SABC operates from a position of integrity with no hidden agenda. I think that addressing these perceptions would only be relevant if we had guilt to hide but we have not. I think the fact that we are delivering quality programmes that are popular with the public speaks for itself. All I will say is that previously South Africa was run by a government that only represented a minority. It was impossible that SABC could be a public broadcaster in this environment. SABC is now audience driven so it represents the programming desires of the majority of the people. The present government also represents the majority of the people so it is possible that links might occur. These links are not intentional. We will continue to represent our audience without fail and we are not going to cosmetically remove ourselves from a ruling party that represents the majority of the people. At the same time we are consolidating our links with minority groups and providing avenues for them to contact SABC.

Ms W. Newhoudt-Druchen (ANC): There have been allegations of corruption against SABC and an investigation has occurred. Is there a report on the investigation? When will we be able to see this?
Response from Mr Mbatha: Various audits are going on and once complete reports will go to the SABC board. They will then decide what action to take.
Mr T. Makunyane (ANC): There is much anxiety to see the reports on these audits.
Prof P. Zulu (Chairperson SABC Board): The situation regarding investigations is as follows. A task team was set up at the end of April to investigate freedom of expression at SABC, editorial independence, possible external and internal influences on programming and employment policies. Various outstanding cases against the SABC needed to be cleared first so investigations did not begin until July. Research on SABC news bulletins was commissioned and comparisons done between SABC and other broadcasters. The team's report will be ready in November when it will be discussed by the SABC board. I cannot give you anymore information than this.

Ms S. Vos (IFP): What is SABC's view on e-TV's success?
Response from Mr Mbatha: E-TV is very new on the market but has been successful in making itself available to very large areas. It seems inevitable that people will be investigating what it is like.
Response from Mr Mokgatle: When e-TV was launched it had a low profile and many internal problems. However it has achieved success within eight months. It is worrying to consider how well it might do without problems!

Ms S. Vos (IFP): Do you think that space could be made for greater regional input into TV. Could the massive listening figures for PBS radio stations be a message for TV programming?
Response from Mr Mbatha: SABC does try to cater for the regions. We have a presence within all provinces which allows us to gather local news. Radio is much easier as we have built on already established stations. The costs needed to establish regional TV stations are currently unaffordable.

Mr R Pieterse (ANC): SABC has very limited signing. How are you trying to improve this, do you have targets or a timeframe for improvements?
Response from Mr Mokgatle: I have noted this concern but would say that we are currently unable to expand signing because of financial constraints.
Mr Kekana stated that this sort of comment that brushed away the question was no longer acceptable and that this committee was very much committed to improving services to all disadvantaged groups, especially the disabled.

Ms W. Newhoudt-Druchen (ANC): I have been asking this question for five years without receiving a proper answer. SABC broadcasts many overseas films and programmes that are already subtitled. I know that SABC has the facilities to show these subtitles but they are actually removed! Why?
No answer was given to this question and Mr Kekana again reiterated that the SABC needed to show the committee a clear strategy towards the disabled.

Ms D. Smuts (DP): Who carries Editorial control at SABC? The Freedom of Expression Institute has quizzed SABC on this without receiving any answers. We need more than Mr Mbatha's promises on integrity. We need a clear understanding of the structures that lead to editorial decisions especially within news and current affairs.
Response from the Deputy Chief Executive: SABC News: There have been many negative reports of SABC's lines of reporting and responsibility. However we have a very clear structure within SABC which is a product of a lengthy transformation process. Final editorial decisions lie with the Chief Executive of News [Mr E Sithole] who as a member of the Group Executive is answerable to the SABC Board. Through this he is also accountable to the public as the SABC board is appointed by public process. Below the Chief Executive are editors who are the operational heads within the newsrooms. They are the ones who are really in charge of the products SABC produces. Below the editors are various news desks producing the reports and also regional editors who liaise with editors through a regional co-ordinator. Within radio there is more decentralisation with regional editors at each station who have editorial independence. All heads of news desks meet daily at 8am to discuss the day's news. At 11am production officers meet to plan the day's productions. At 3.30pm editors and producers meet to plan what news will go on air in the evening. Although there is an editor-in-chief, he can be overruled if the majority of editors disagree with his decisions. SABC believes that this is a consultative process and that an editorial code dictated by the need for coverage to be fair, accountable and balanced ensures the integrity of SABC productions. The IBA report on our electoral coverage stated our programming was fair and accurate. We do have plans to increase decentralisation by integrating TV and regional radio services. We also intend to increase the checks and balances within our system by totally separating news gathering and production. Finally I would state that no evidence has ever been produced to back up the allegations made against SABC.

Dr P. Mulder (FF): SABC went through a difficult financial period following 1994. Now it seems that a very positive financial period is being enjoyed. However this is probably due to the effects of recent rationalisation. What are SABC financial projections for the future? Does SABC foresee the need to appeal to government for extra funding?
Response from Mr N. Harvey (Chief Operating Officer): We have released figures for the eighteen months ending March 1998. These do look very positive showing a R105million profit. However this period included two Octobers, Novembers and Decembers - the most profitable advertising period - so the figures may be misleading. The figures for the last twelve months will be presented to the minister soon and we do expect them to be positive. SABC needs to make a R100million surplus each year to continue to develop and be independent of government funding. We expect to make this surplus in the coming years.

Mr S. Mongwaketse (ANC): How far is SABC working for the people in rural areas? People might pay their licence fees and might have a reliable electricity supply but the service they receive from SABC still seems poor compared to that received by urban areas. Do you have a programme to improve service delivery to rural areas?
Response from Mr Mbatha: We are currently working to make sure that our radio services cover 80% of the population but we are now dependent on Sentech to set up the new sites we have requested. With regards to TV we do have roll-out plans, we are addressing the poor services to many areas and we are keeping people informed when we have problems servicing an area. In future we hope to integrate terrestrial services with satellite services to improve coverage but for now we are doing all within our means.

Ms O. Mndende (UDM): The outsourcing of programmes to rural areas only benefits those who are advantaged there.
Response from Mr Mbatha: I disagree. We have a programme of social investment that means we can aid small producers in enhancing their capacity to produce programmes. This programme also means we are recruiting and training young people.

Many questions raised were not answered partly due to time constraints. Mr Kekana said that he expected SABC to report back to the committee on the following areas:
- Economic efficiency - SABC must report on measures taken to be viable. The executive must give the committee assurance that clear performance indicators are in place and show how resources are being used.
- Competition - SABC must show how it is adopting to an environment that includes competition.
- Universal services - There are concerns about the rolling-out of services to rural areas and to African communities especially.
- The development of a clear policy on the disabled, youth, and gender.
- Restructuring - The committee looks forward to hearing more about the restructuring occurring following the Broadcasting Act.

Appendix 1:

SABC's state of readiness for Corporatisation