The problems at South Africa’s public broadcaster are legendary, ranging from serious mismanagement to loss of editorial independence and poor financial management. The problem is particularly serious because the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) remains the only source of information for most South Africans. But fixing the problem is not easy. This is because Parliament, which has oversight, has been unable to impose its authority on decisions made by the SABC’s board, or on the minister in charge. As a result the SABC has stumbled from one crisis to another. Its financial situation has become more precarious every year and its ability to fulfil its mandate more tenuous.READ THIS: Muthambi to face Parliament grilling over SABC crisis There were high hopes that the SABC would become a true public broadcaster after the end of apartheid – an era when it was used ruthlessly as a propaganda machine. But after a promising start, with concerted efforts to turn the SABC into a...
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