Nomsa Chabeli, the CEO of SABC, has issued a stark warning about the potential for a blackout following Sentech’s threat to turn off its transmitters due to outstanding debts. This alarming information was shared during a joint session of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on July 16, 2025.
Chabeli explained, “Due to the legacy debt owed to Sentech, we face the possibility of them beginning to switch off transmitters.” If Sentech proceeds with this action, TV and radio stations would no longer be able to broadcast, resulting in a complete loss of service for anyone within their coverage area. A shutdown of the SABC’s transmitters would result in a total blackout for the state broadcaster.
This isn’t the first such warning regarding the SABC’s operational continuity. Earlier in the year, Media Monitoring Africa’s William Bird noted that the broadcaster was at risk of a blackout, attributing this to ongoing government defunding. He emphasised that the costs of signal distribution by Sentech are among the SABC’s largest financial burdens and argued that the government should bear these expenses for public broadcasters.
Bird stated, “It should be the government’s responsibility to cover these costs. Instead, the SABC is left to shoulder this significant financial burden, jeopardising its sustainability.” He added that the SABC is in a dire situation without a financial rescue plan or loan guarantees from the government. “It’s not far-fetched to suggest we could soon face a blackout,” he warned, referring to a near-miss blackout the previous year.
During her address to Parliament, Chabeli noted the lack of funding for the state broadcaster’s public interest mandate. She pointed out that the existing business model is outdated and ineffective in today’s context, stating, “It was designed for a world that no longer exists, and the SABC cannot alter it on its own.”
Chabeli emphasised the need for changes in legislation and regulation to ensure the SABC’s financial sustainability. She pointed out the declining compliance with TV license fees, which have stagnated in value for years and cost 40% to collect.
Furthermore, Chabeli highlighted that the media landscape has dramatically shifted, with global tech companies dominating advertising revenues, leaving the SABC without adequate financial resources. Compounding this issue is the lack of access to capital or credit guarantees from the National Treasury, despite the SABC’s good governance and clean audit reports.
“The SABC has been forced to operate without sufficient funding for content creation, relying instead on reruns,” she explained to the parliamentary members. This, in turn, creates a vicious cycle, as high-quality content is vital for attracting advertising and sponsorship support.
Despite growing demand in these areas, the SABC’s lack of funding hinders its ability to invest in new digital platforms and applications. Chabeli concluded by stating that the consequences of the SABC’s financial struggles pose a significant risk to its viability, the government’s reputation, and the public interest if the broadcaster were to fail.
