Briefing on progress on analogue switch-off; SABC Bill; update on SABC DTT and DTH strategy; with Ministry

Video The Committee met virtually to engage with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT, or the Department) on the progress of the analogue switch-off, responses received on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Bill [B32-2023], and an update on the SABC Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and Direct-to-Home (DTH) strategies, and discuss the Minister's recent controversial withdrawal of the SABC Bill.  The Department reported that 469 370 households still needed to be connected before the end of December. While 1.3 million installations had been successfully completed since the project’s inception, several challenges remained. Furthermore, as of 31 October, only 21 of South Africa’s 195 analogue television transmitters had been completely switched off. Data integrity issues had hindered the pace of decoder installations, delaying progress toward the 90% threshold required to secure broadcaster authorisation for the switch-off. Once the 90% threshold was reached, installations for the remaining households would continue. The DCDT also revealed that the government had spent R1.23 billion on dual illumination since 2014.  In light of all the challenges encountered, an extension of the deadline seemed a sound choice, although it would require further funding for dual illumination. Without this extension, many South Africans relying on analogue services could be left behind in the digital migration. The Ministry stressed that failing to extend the deadline would significantly impact broadcasters, who had also expressed their concerns to the Ministry.  Members lambasted the Department for shifting the goalposts and probed the possible options to the Department’s disposal and whether it would not be possible to allow the analogue to die a natural death, given the amount of money and resources that have been spent so far. Members also questioned the data integrity and could not understand how, after so long, the Department was still experiencing a myriad of issues regarding the analogue switch-off.  The SABC presented its DTH project, a shift from the DTT decoders. The SABC coined this project to penetrate the ‘missing middle’ market. The broadcasting digital migration (BDM) programme was targeted at indigent households through a qualification criterion for subsidised set-top boxes (STBs) and installation. The ‘missing middle’, which would be left behind and might not have access to cost-effective STBs, is needed to augment the BDM STBs. This was part of the SABC’s five-year strategy plan, anchored in one of its pillars as the country moved to digital migration. Securing a service provider to partner with, soliciting capital requirements, and developing the funding and revenue-sharing model were still works in progress.  Lastly, the Committee decided not to proceed with the engagement on the Department’s responses to public submissions on the SABC Bill. The Minister had utilised Rule 334 of the National Assembly Rules to unilaterally withdraw the Bill. According to the Minister, the key areas of concern with the version of the Bill were the lack of a credible financial model, the extent to which the Minister’s powers were reflected, and the lack of a clear role by Parliament in appointing SABC board members. Additionally, the audio and audio-visual policy should have been developed before the Bill was introduced, which did not happen.  Members were unhappy with the Minister, with some Members citing disrespect and calling the Minister forward. Members felt the Minister had acted within the law in withdrawing the Bill, but the approach did not encourage a healthy relationship with Members. Members felt that they should have been consulted and not found out through the media that the Bill was withdrawn after extensive work and resources had gone into the process. At this point, the Bill's withdrawal had not been confirmed, and Cabinet’s spokesperson said the Bill was a Cabinet Bill and the withdrawal process had to be done through Cabinet. The conflicting views perplexed Members, and it was resolved that further clarity would be provided next week. Meanwhile, the Committee would write to the Speaker to request correspondence with the Ministry, and legal advice would be sought