SABC tax not a certainty

Rudolph Muller

Rudolph Muller is the editor at MyBroadband and covers telecoms and broadband news. Rudolph comes from an academic background, but left the University of...

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The Department of Communications (DoC) recently released its draft Public Service Broadcasting Bill aimed at aligning the broadcasting system with the country’s developmental goals. 

The Bill deals with various issues, including funding for development broadcasting and establishing a ‘Public Service Broadcasting Fund’. While TV licenses seem set to be scrapped, it may be replaced with personal income tax to fund the SABC. 

The concept of SABC tax did not go down well with consumers, but the Communications Minister has now responded by saying that SABC tax is not a certainty, but merely one option to fund the embattled broadcaster.

In a press statement the DoC said that the draft Public Service Broadcasting Bill is simply a process aimed at getting the nation to input their view on how best the Public Broadcaster could be resourced to ensure that it meets its mandate of delivering quality, reliable services to the public.

“No decision has been taken with regard to the collection of revenue to establish and sustain the proposed Public Service Broadcast Fund,” the DoC said.  “The draft bill raises several proposals on the best possible way of creating a sustainable funding mechanism through which the SABC can efficiently deliver on its mandate.”

“The idea of raising funds for the Public Broadcaster through a tax levy is one of a variety of options being proposed in the discussion document. It is also important to note that tax policy resides in the National Treasury and any decision that relates to tax matters would have to be taken in consultation with National Treasury.”

The DoC said that exploratory discussions have taken place between the DoC and the South African Revenue Services (SARS) to discuss a possible collection system.

“The present manner in which the Public Broadcaster raises funds cannot be relied on. Hundreds of thousands of people do not honour their obligations of paying Television license fees. This leads the Public Broadcaster in a dire situation where it has to spend millions of rand in debt collection services in a bid to recover the revenue due to it,” the DoC said.

“We also wish to dismiss assertions by some concerned groups that the proposed changes raised in the document would seek to give the Minister of Communications the authority to interfere on editorial policy of the Public Broadcaster. The Minister of Communications understands the importance of independent media that serves as a watchdog for the public and would never seek to undermine this principle.”

SABC tax – give your views