Question NW163 to the Minister of Finance
24 July 2019 - NW163
Lees, Mr RA to ask the Minister of Finance
(1) What are the relevant details of any funding paid by the National Treasury from the Government to the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2019; (2) what are the relevant details of any envisaged payments by the Government to SABC from 1 July 2019 to 31 March 2020; (3) whether the National Treasury issued any letters of commitment in favour of SABC to assist SABC to raise loans from lenders from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2019; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) what are the details of any envisaged letters of commitment to be issued in favour of SABC for the purpose of obtaining loans from lenders from 1 July 2019 to 31 March 2020?
Reply:
1. R199 million has been allocated to the SABC for the 2019/2020 financial year. This is to specifically cater for public broadcasting obligations, community radio stations, Channel Africa and programme production. More detail can be found within the Estimates of National Expenditure.
2. In the 2019 Budget Speech, the Minister of Finance indicated the following:
“On other state-owned enterprises, we are reviewing our framework for state-owned enterprise support. Government has revised the contingency reserve upwards to R13 billion for 2019/20 to respond to possible requests for financial support”
SABC is one of the entities that has applied for funding from the contingency reserve. The amount that the entity has applied for and the outcome of the funding request will only be determined after the normal budgetary and legislative processes have been finalised which is expected around August/September 2019.
3. In line with the 2019 Budget Speech, National Treasury has indicated to the SABC that government remains committed to supporting the entity and its funding requirements through the contingency reserve process which is currently underway.
4. None.