The SABC’s recent shenanigans in Parliament illustrate quite plainly how government perceives its relationship with citizens: legalised extortion. Instead of allowing this to continue, we must demand the repeal of the Broadcasting Act and the break-up of the SABC. All students of political science have to consider the following two interrelated questions: what is the state, and what is its role? While there are many theories, the orthodox and arguably correct view is that the state is an institution whose function is to protect (and recently, advance) the rights and property of its citizens and, to that end, monopolises legitimate violence. The SABC, however, not in the spirit of advancement, announced before Parliament that, to increase revenue, it will seek to impose licensing on other "viewing devices". This means that South Africans’ tablets, computers, and possibly even cellphones will require licences for which fees must be paid. In addition, the SABC wishes to force DStv to c...
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