It’s looking increasingly likely that another SABC taxpayer bailout is on the cards. This has come to light in SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli’s 2025 Annual Report, released this month (October 2025). In it she admitted that the SABC’s current TV licence business model was developed for a world that existed 50 years ago.
If that’s the case, and the CEO says so publicly, why don’t we all cut our losses and move on from the state broadcaster? The South African Post Office is a relic from the past, and everyone is fine with it. Why should we have another SABC taxpayer bailout? The state-run enterprise cannot even pay the signal provider that transmits its channels. And reports suggest that all transmission may have to be switched off on 31 December 2025, if millions in outstanding fees aren’t settled.
SABC TAXPAYER BAILOUT
According to its latest reports, the South African Broadcasting Corporation lost R253 million in 2024. This is worse than its record R197-million loss in 2023. Chabeli tried to explain the state broadcaster’s financial woes. “I assumed that captive radio and television audiences would generate substantial commercial revenue, which could fund the SABC’s public service mandate,” she said.
“However, the reality is that the world has shifted. Non-payment of TV licence fees has become a growing problem, with high levels of evasion. The market is open to both global and local competitors. None of whom have the same public obligation, and associated cost,” argued Chabeli. Hence the inevitable talk of an SABC taxpayer bailout.
SABC’S LACK OF RELEVANCE
The CEO says an SABC taxpayer bailout will inject the broadcaster with much-needed capital to remain competitive. In addition, changes to applicable legislation and regulations are required. “We support the reintroduction of the SABC Bill in Parliament to provide necessary legislation. Addressing this funding gap is a critical aspect of our business model innovation,” she concluded.
However, this wouldn’t be the first SABC taxpayer bailout. The government entity’s last significant bailout was back in 2020. Like watching old reruns, the state broadcaster received R3.2 billion to help its financial woes, pay outstanding debts and implement a turnaround strategy. That sounds awfully familiar, doesn’t it …
WORSE OFF AFTER LAST SABC TAXPAYER BAILOUT
However, just three years after that bailout, in 2023, former Deputy Minister of Communications Philly Mapulane had this to say in parliament:
“The SABC is worse off now than before it received the bailout. You will recall we supported the SABC taxpayer bailout. It was implemented but the ‘turnaround plan’ never turned the finances of the SABC. We are back to where we were, if not in a worse position than before the bailout,” concluded Mapulane.
What do you think, is there any saving the SABC or should we save taxpayers and forget the idea of state broadcaster once and for all? Let us know in the comments section below …
