Question NW1 to the Minister of Communications
12 March 2018 - NW1
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Communications
(1) Whether any politicians have been paid to be interviewed and profiled on any of the platforms of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as public broadcaster over the past 48 months; if so, (a) how many and (b)(i) on which television channels and radio stations specifically and (ii) how much revenue has been collected by the SABC in this regard; (2) Whether she has found that this is a standard practice at the SABC; if not, in what instances will the SABC accept cash for interviews outside of election periods; (3) Why did the SABC not indicate to its viewers that a recent interview on SABC 3 (details furnished) was paid for and therefore an advertorial?
Reply:
1. No politicians have been paid by the SABC.
(a) Not Applicable
(b) (i) Not Applicable
(ii) Not Applicable
2. The SABC draws a sharp distinction between political advertising (when it is permissible during an election period), and the day-to-day advertising by government departments and state institutions for which all media owners compete. Whereas the SABC does not charge politicians for interviews, its commercial division indeed competes for government advertising campaigns via the GCIS and/or directly from government departments. The advertising is assessed on the basis of its relation to government communication programmes or services.
3. In respect of the recent SABC3 interview, the SABC acknowledged in a media statement that there had been a breakdown in internal controls and processes and that steps were being taken to ensure that there is no recurrence.
Approved/ not approved
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Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane MP,
Minister
Date: