On Monday, reporters heard that state-owned signal distributor Sentech, whose primary client is the SABC, is 'subsidising" the public broadcaster's signal distribution expenses to the tune of R70-million/month.
This is according to parliament's portfolio chair for the communications portfolio, the ANC's Khusela Diko, who spoke at an economic cluster media briefing in parliament. She warned that the SABC is "at risk of collapse" as it waits for an updated funding model.
"As we stand here today, Sentech - which has the SABC as its main client - is bleeding more than R70-million/month to subsidise SABC's broadcast signalling costs. This is unsustainable, yet the SABC Bill, which is essential to ensuring sustainability, remains stalled in this parliament," said Diko.