Independent research unearths SABC's bad spell

“What is emerging from this research - which is still ongoing - is that the challenges the SABC faces are not only related to the immediate crises that have been reported in the media over the past year, but to structural and legislative issues as well, including the broadcaster's funding model,” Libby Lloyd, an independent researcher and a former ICASA councillor, told Bizcommunity.com yesterday, 21 June 2009.

Review needed

“It is clear, as a number of different stakeholders, including the ANC in its Polokwane conference, have highlighted, that there is a need to review the funding model and the White Paper on broadcasting and laws related to this,” Lloyd added.

“The SABC in its past annual reports has itself identified the need for a review in particular of the funding model.”

However, the financial review of the research, just one section of which is in possession of Bizcommunity.com, recommends that an economic modelling should be done to contextualise the funding models.

Lloyd explained: “I would argue that there needs to be a very thorough economic analysis of the SABC's needs in relation to its mandate and creative mechanisms [devised] to meet these before adopting a new model.

“Laws must emphasise transparent accounting and there is a need to research benchmarks for administration costs versus programming costs for public broadcasting.”

A ticking bomb

A source close to Auckland Park said last night: “It would seem unfair to believe that Kanyi and her team are to blame for the corporation's meltdown. I am sure this report implies that all these years, the SABC had been living like a terminally ill patient cursed by a combination of factors. As time went by, it became like a ticking bomb. I think leaders who came and went misread the true extent of that grave situation.

“Nevertheless, what is certain now is that Kanyi and her friends thought they had everything under control, which is why they were doing as they pleased - like undermining the management and squandering the little resources the SABC had.

“Of course, the SABC has been badly let down by government. So, I would advise the portfolio committee on communications to stop pointing fingers, but push for a new legislation to solve these deep-rooted problems.”

Lloyd said: “The public must not be complacent or just throw stones. We all need to do better and more - an oversight of spending and fulfillment of mandate and ensure transparency. The current legislation is 10 years old and needs to be reviewed. ICASA must monitor and Parliament must fulfil [its] oversight role.”