SABC's R120 Million Funding Crisis Threatens Fair Coverage of November 4 Vote
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has warned that its ability to deliver comprehensive coverage of the November 4 local government elections hangs in the balance, as National Treasury continues to withhold a critical R120 million funding allocation. This funding uncertainty threatens the public broadcaster's capacity to provide the deep, nationwide coverage that South African voters deserve, particularly in communities that have historically been underserved by mainstream media.
What does the funding delay mean for election coverage?
SABC chief executive Nomsa Chabeli told Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies that the broadcaster remains committed to covering the elections regardless of the funding outcome, but its plans would have to be adjusted depending on the resources available. “The SABC will cover the elections regardless of the funding outcome,” Chabeli said.
The funding request has been under discussion for months. The SABC told Parliament in August that it required the additional R120 million to support the personnel, technology and broadcasting infrastructure needed for the local government elections, including the scale of coverage required across the country.
IOL reported in September that National Treasury had not allocated the requested R120 million in the 2026 budget. The SABC received R35 million in dedicated funding for the 2024 elections. The broadcaster subsequently resubmitted its funding request to Treasury in August, but the money remains outstanding.
Why is the SABC's role so critical for South African democracy?
For millions of South Africans, particularly in rural areas and townships, the SABC remains the primary source of election information. The public broadcaster's election operation includes news coverage, election programming, voter education, political debates, outside broadcasts and the dissemination of election results. When the SABC is underfunded, it is the poorest and most marginalised communities that suffer the most, as commercial media outlets focus their resources on urban audiences with higher purchasing power.
Chabeli said the SABC's election preparations were progressing, but the final operational readiness of its deployment remained linked to the funding decision. “The resilience of delivery on the 4th of November will depend on our funding availability and most importantly, decisions that are taken now,” she said.
How is the SABC preparing despite the financial constraints?
The broadcaster is working with the Electoral Commission of South Africa on arrangements for results operations and is preparing data and results systems that will need to be tested before election day. However, the broadcaster is also dealing with ageing technology infrastructure.
“We are aware that we are working with outdated equipment,” Chabeli said. She said the SABC's technology infrastructure had reached the end of its life, adding to the pressure as it finalised its election deployment and technical requirements.
What is the government doing to resolve the funding impasse?
Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi told MPs that he had engaged Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and President Cyril Ramaphosa in an effort to find a way to assist the SABC. However, he said those discussions had not resulted in an immediate release of funding.
“There was no immediate resolution that would release funds as a direct result of that meeting,” Malatsi said. He said further clarity was expected through the adjustments-budget process.
Acting director-general Gcobisa Soci said the department had submitted its budget request to National Treasury and was still awaiting a response. Soci said the department would also examine whether savings could be redirected to assist the SABC with the elections. “We will arrange in terms of looking at whether there will be any savings that can be transferred to SABC to assist with the local government,” Soci said.
Will smaller parties get fair coverage?
The funding uncertainty prompted MPs to question what the SABC would have to reduce if the additional money was not secured. EFF MP Sixolise Gcilishe questioned whether political parties would receive fair and equitable coverage during the election period. Gcilishe said the EFF had concerns about the coverage it had received, while also raising questions about misinformation, deepfakes and the way journalists conduct interviews with political parties.
MK Party MP Adil Nchabeleng also raised concerns about his party's coverage, saying the party had not received sufficient coverage of its manifesto, community activities and rallies. He questioned what the minimum funding requirement would be for the SABC to provide adequate election coverage and what services would have to be reduced if the R120 million was not secured.
Malatsi rejected suggestions that political parties were being deliberately excluded from the SABC's coverage. “I don't think any party, whether in government or outside, would be in favour of the situation that does not promote fair and deep coverage. There is no decision made to gag any political party. It would be inappropriate to do so,” he said.
He cautioned against attempts to pressure SABC management into making editorial pronouncements about individual parties. Malatsi said the SABC had continued to provide election-related programming despite its financial constraints, including mayoral debates and manifesto launches. “It is important that even in this undesirable situation, the SABC has shown resilience with the depth of the coverage, and it continues to do so,” he said.
How is the SABC preparing for misinformation and results?
Chabeli said election preparations also included measures to deal with misinformation, deepfakes and manipulated content that could circulate during the campaign and voting period. The broadcaster would rely on verification processes, partnerships and human oversight to assess election-related information before it is broadcast.
She also highlighted the importance of language in the SABC's radio services and the controls required to manage language coverage during the elections. Chabeli said the broadcaster's board oversight remained in place, while management remained accountable for resources, strategic direction and the escalation of material risks. She also stressed that editorial independence remained safeguarded.
What happens if the funding does not materialise?
“If funding comes quite late, we will be limited in terms of what we are able to source to ensure that we are able to integrate and deliver accordingly,” Chabeli said.
The coming weeks will be critical. The SABC's ability to deliver on its public mandate, to inform every South African voter in their own language, and to hold power to account through robust election coverage, depends on Treasury releasing the funds without further delay. Our democracy cannot afford a public broadcaster that is forced to choose which communities to serve and which to leave in the dark.