The second wave is taking out whole families - Covid latest
No Cape Town Cycle Tour 2021 in March, event 'untenable' say organisers
Award-winning CPT eatery offers booze-free pairing menu
Covid-19 vaccine tax? 'Govt needs to tell the nation what the funding model is'
'Detractors want to blame Eskom's woes on Cyril Ramaphosa'
Over 18K megawatts offline due to planned and unplanned maintenance, says Eskom
New laws force all restaurants to pay higher wages, and a host of other expenses
6 trends that will drag us along in 2021 – life will never be the same again
Alcohol ban: Consol, hanging by a thread, burns through millions to stay alive
Struggle to get an erection? It could be an early warning sign of heart disease
Vitamin D flying off the shelves, but can it really prevent Covid-19?
Emma Sadleir: Beware of the risks before naming and shaming perpetrators online
Rachel Kolisi has Covid-19. It is taking a toll on the kids, says Siya
Jurie Roux ordered to pay back R37m ‘misappropriated’ from Stellenbosch Uni
'What a moment of joy!' Siya pays surprise visit to fire-ravaged Masiphumelele
Miss SA slammed for bikini pics, but supporters say criticism is form of GBV
DJ Fresh and Euphonik step down from 947 and other public gigs amid rape case
John Maytham's Book Reviews: 15 January 2021
[EXPLAINER] When a bronchoscopy is appropriate to treat Covid-19
Welshman offers local govt £50m reward to find fortune he tossed on rubbish dump
Germany Covid-19 death rate now higher than US - considers 'mega lockdown'
Chinese businesses and Namibian elites get rich illegally logging rosewood trees
Zimbabwe crisis: 'South Africa can intervene but solution lies with Zimbabweans'
Immigrants are net creators of jobs in South Africa, research confirms
Covid-19 vaccine: Government may have to milk bone-dry taxpayers some more
South Africa needs the SABC. Check your privilege if you don’t agree
The SABC needs additional revenue streams – most people agree.
It’s the “how” that has Mzansi hot under the collar.
The ailing public broadcaster has suggested that the government should force the likes of MultiChoice (owner of DStv) and Netflix to collect TV licences on its behalf.
Another suggestion – that the government should start requiring TV licenses for devices such as phones – went down like a lead balloon.
RELATED: SABC wants you to buy a TV license for your phone - even if you don't own a TV
A privileged minority might scoff, but the fact is that South Africa needs the SABC; tens of millions of us rely on it, often exclusively, to access information and entertainment.
John Maytham interviewed Duduetsang Makuse, National Co-ordinator at The SOS Coalition, an organisation that campaigns for excellent programming in the public interest at the SABC.
There’s no clear way to generate revenue for the public broadcaster… It has a mandate; part of the content required by it simply wouldn’t be carried under commercial circumstances… it has to be funded to some degree by the public purse.
Duduetsang Makuse, National Co-ordinator - The SOS Coalition
TV licenses is not working. It contributes less than 18% to the SABC’s revenues… If we collected 100% of TV licenses, we’d inject R900 million into the SABC every year…
Duduetsang Makuse, National Co-ordinator - The SOS Coalition
The funding model itself needs to be done away with… There are a bunch of options on the table… Our inequality and unemployment don’t help the situation.
Duduetsang Makuse, National Co-ordinator - The SOS Coalition
The expectation was always that the commercial side of the SABC would fund the public service channels. But, actually, it’s the public service channels that are generating more revenue… SABC’s local content is sitting at the top of what audiences are watching… [despite] this persistent narrative that the content is not great.
Duduetsang Makuse, National Co-ordinator - The SOS Coalition
The SABC is a critical institution… Everybody who cannot afford DStv or another commercial entity would be left out… It’s not OK to leave certain groups behind because they can’t afford a media service.
Duduetsang Makuse, National Co-ordinator - The SOS Coalition
Listen to the interview in the audio.
More from Business
New laws force all restaurants to pay higher wages, and a host of other expenses
"It applies to everybody. You have no choice," says Jan Truter of Labour Wise. "It comes at the worst possible time."
Read More
6 trends that will drag us along in 2021 – life will never be the same again
The future is now different. The Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield interviews trends analyst Dion Chang, the founder of Flux Trends.
Read More
Alcohol ban: Consol, hanging by a thread, burns through millions to stay alive
It cannot stop its furnaces, so it must keep them going. Bruce Whitfield interviews Mike Arnold, CEO at Consol Glass.
Read More
Covid-19 vaccine: Government may have to milk bone-dry taxpayers some more
Treasury is mulling raising taxes, says Prof Adrian Saville, Chief Executive of Cannon Asset Managers.
Read More
Economy in 2021: 'Expect a better year for South African assets'
An economist expects China growth at 9.5%, US money-printing, rising metal prices and trade- and current-account surpluses in SA.
Read More
Retirement funds in SA are changing – new laws come into effect on 1 March 2021
Bruce Whitfield asks personal finance advisor Warren Ingram to explain in detail the new laws affecting provident funds.
Read More
Germany Covid-19 death rate now higher than US - considers 'mega lockdown'
Germany has squandered its early success in restricting Covid-19, laments Deutsche Welle Correspondent Chelsey Dulaney.
Read More
Wine industry runs out of storage due to ban - R1.5b's worth could be lost
A new harvest is imminent and there's no more space for unsold wine. We have the highest stock level ever - Vinpro's Rico Basson
Read More
Don't fall for promises of high returns from latest investment scam, warns FSCA
A new scam is surfacing on Facebook and WhatsApp groups. The masterminds are even using the FSP number of a legitimate company.
Read More
'Thank you Mr President for not shutting us down, but we need more support!'
Loadshedding is another blow to the struggling restaurant industry. We need more relief says Grace Harding (Restaurant Collective)
Read MoreMore from Opinion
New laws force all restaurants to pay higher wages, and a host of other expenses
"It applies to everybody. You have no choice," says Jan Truter of Labour Wise. "It comes at the worst possible time."
Read More
6 trends that will drag us along in 2021 – life will never be the same again
The future is now different. The Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield interviews trends analyst Dion Chang, the founder of Flux Trends.
Read More
Covid-19 vaccine: Government may have to milk bone-dry taxpayers some more
Treasury is mulling raising taxes, says Prof Adrian Saville, Chief Executive of Cannon Asset Managers.
Read More
Economy in 2021: 'Expect a better year for South African assets'
An economist expects China growth at 9.5%, US money-printing, rising metal prices and trade- and current-account surpluses in SA.
Read More
'Disabled South Africans are sleeping on pavements outside Sassa offices'
A humanitarian and health crisis is unfolding, right now, in South Africa, warns Lynette Maart (Black Sash national director).
Read More
Anoj Singh fails to testify at Zondo Commission - despite it being mandatory
"It’s a very decisive moment for the legitimacy of the Zondo Commission," warns political analyst (NWU) Professor Andre Duvenhage.
Read More
Santam limits Covid-19 'business interruption' pay-outs to 3 months' losses
"The indemnity period is now the question," says lawyer PJ Veldhuizen. "I think Santam is going to be unsuccessful."
Read More
Elon Musk slips to no 2 in 'richest' rankings (but earns Andy Rice's hero award)
Pretoria-born Musk is a role model in terms of vision, creativity and conviction says branding expert Andy Rice.
Read More
Zimbabwe crisis: 'South Africa can intervene but solution lies with Zimbabweans'
It is probably expecting too much from the ANC government to censure Zanu-PF, a sister liberation movement, says Tapiwa Chagonda.
Read More
'ANC is against another hard lockdown'
"Family meeting" – the scariest words in the English language. Bruce Whitfield interviews News24 Political Editor Qaanitah Hunter.
Read More
Highlights