Communications Minister Solly Malatsi announced that BMI TechKnowledge, the company tasked with creating a new funding model for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), has requested an extension for its project.
During a session with the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday, November 13, 2025, Malatsi confirmed that BMI TechKnowledge sought to extend the deadline from December 15 to February 6, 2026. This request was motivated by concerns regarding disruptions in their work during the festive season, as several stakeholders also indicated their unavailability during that period.
The minister stated that his department approved the extension to ensure that the process included comprehensive, fair, and effective engagement with stakeholders. “The initial draft of this funding framework is anticipated to be delivered by mid-December, with the final report ready by early February,” he explained.
However, additional steps will be necessary before implementing the SABC’s new funding model. “Any funding model in the public sector influences how the Treasury allocates resources,” Malatsi emphasised. Following BMI TechKnowledge’s proposal, the department will consult with the Minister of Finance.
While the SABC primarily relies on advertising for funding, greater compliance with TV licensing fees could significantly enhance its financial stability. Recent statistics reveal that avoidance of TV licence fees by South Africans has surged from 69% in 2019 to 86% in 2024.
Nomsa Chabeli, the CEO of the SABC, acknowledged the decline of the TV licence scheme, asserting that it has become obsolete. The new funding model is expected to replace the existing TV licence arrangement with an alternative, possibly a household levy. “It’s no longer relevant in today’s world. Our previous submissions on the SABC Bill included proposals for a household levy,” Chabeli noted, adding that there have been discussions about the South African Revenue Service taking over the collection mechanism.
The SABC Bill aimed to provide a new funding framework for the public broadcaster, but left the finalisation to the ministers of communication and finance within three years. Given the SABC’s precarious financial condition, waiting three years could have dire consequences.
Malatsi characterised the bill as “fundamentally flawed” and informed Parliament’s speaker, Thoko Didiza, in November 2024, about his withdrawal of the bill. This move drew criticism from Khusela Diko, the chair of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, who warned that this withdrawal could lead to the public broadcaster’s demise. Discussions were suggesting that President Cyril Ramaphosa might intervene to help ANC MPs reverse the withdrawal.
In September 2025, Diko acknowledged that the committee had paused discussions to allow Malatsi’s plan to advance, but expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of progress. During that month, Malatsi announced that BMI TechKnowledge had been appointed to craft a sustainable funding model for the SABC. “This marks a significant milestone in our effort to secure the public broadcaster’s future and its mandate to serve millions of South Africans,” the minister stated.
Malatsi further assured that, given the considerable public concern about the SABC’s financial sustainability, he would provide updates as necessary throughout the process.
