The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is preparing for the 2026 local government elections, but its coverage plans may be affected by a funding shortfall. The broadcaster has requested R120 million from the National Treasury, but has yet to receive the funds. SABC Board Chairperson Khathu Ramukumba told Parliament that despite the funding challenges, the broadcaster's preparations for the elections are advanced.
According to Ramukumba, the SABC's preparations for the upcoming local government elections are in full swing, and the broadcaster remains committed to delivering full coverage as far as available resources allow. The SABC's coverage plans aim to reflect the realities of communities across the country. The broadcaster's CEO, Nomsa Chabeli, said that the upcoming local government elections require coverage that accurately represents the diverse experiences of communities.
Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi has been engaging with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and President Cyril Ramaphosa to find ways to assist the SABC with its funding concerns. However, no immediate resolution was reached, and Malatsi is expected to make pronouncements on the adjustment budget later this month. The SABC's funding request was re-submitted to the National Treasury in August, and the broadcaster is still waiting for a response.
The SABC's CEO, Nomsa Chabeli, said that the broadcaster's planning for the local government elections is at an advanced stage across all platforms. However, the reality is that funding and resource allocation remain uncertain, and these decisions will materially affect the provisional deployments. Chabeli stated that the SABC will scale up or scale down its coverage depending on whether it receives the R120 million in funding.
The R120 million in funding is still outstanding, and the SABC is yet to receive a response from the National Treasury. According to Ramukumba, the request for the R120 million started 13 months ago during the normal Medium Term Expenditure Framework process. The submission to the National Treasury in August clarified questions that had been asked, and the SABC is hopeful that the funding will be approved.
Some politicians have expressed disappointment at the lack of progress on the SABC's funding. MK Party MP Abe Nchabeleng complained that there was no satisfactory answer to the funding for the public broadcaster, and that the situation is highly concerning. ANC MP Imraan Subrathie and EFF MP Sixolise Gcilishe also questioned what would be scaled down in the elections coverage if the SABC does not receive the R120 million.
Despite the funding challenges, the SABC has been working to provide coverage of the elections. Minister Malatsi gave credit to the SABC for covering the launch of manifestos and mayoral debates. The SABC's coverage plans will be finalized once the funding situation is resolved, and the broadcaster is committed to providing fair and in-depth coverage of the elections.
Key points
- The SABC is awaiting R120m from the National Treasury to fund its coverage of the 2026 local government elections.
- The broadcaster's preparations for the elections are advanced, but coverage may be scaled up or down depending on funding.
- The SABC's funding request was re-submitted to the National Treasury in August, but a response is still pending.
