Parliament warns SABC needs about R120m to deliver fair election coverage

Parliament’s communications watchdog has told government the SABC needs urgent funding to meet its election broadcasting obligations ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

Who, what and how much

The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies said the public broadcaster requires an estimated R120 million to deliver “comprehensive coverage” of the elections. The committee made the call after the SABC briefed it on the “significant financial resources required” to execute its election mandate, the committee chairperson Khusela Sangoni-Diko said.

Why the money is needed

According to SABC chairperson Nomsa Chabeli, the additional resources would ensure “fair and equitable coverage of all political parties, including independent candidates, while also reaching voters across the country.” The broadcaster said the funds would cover editorial operations, technology, results data, digital capabilities and operational support.

Public service role and concern over underfunding

The committee described the SABC as occupying a “unique and indispensable” position in South Africa’s electoral democracy and emphasised the broadcaster’s constitutional and legislative responsibility to provide “reliable, accurate and timely information” to citizens, including those in underserved and rural communities.

Diko warned that the SABC was “on the brink of collapse” if a funding model was not finalised and said the committee was concerned about the slow pace in dealing with a sustainable public broadcasting funding model, which has “placed increasing pressure on the corporation’s ability to fulfil its statutory mandate.”

Oversight, governance and editorial fairness

Beyond funding, the committee highlighted the need for strong editorial governance and oversight to ensure election coverage is “fair, balanced and equitable” for all parties contesting the elections. The SABC said it has established governance structures and is engaging with the Independent Electoral Commission on election preparations, including results operations and regional mobilisation.

The broadcaster also said it has strengthened verification processes to guard against misinformation, deepfakes and manipulated content during the election period.

Political concerns

EFF MP Sixolise Gcilishe warned of risks if the SABC goes into the elections without the required budget, saying:

“I’m very concerned if SABC were to go to elections without the budget that they say they require, and my concern is that there will be favouritism

Gcilishe pointed to the SABC’s failure to cover the EFF’s Women’s Month events and questioned the allocation of Political Election Broadcast (PEB) slots, noting concerns about a proposed system where 60% of slots are shared equally among parties while 40% are allocated based on other criteria, including existing representation.

Committee action

The committee said it will continue to exercise oversight over the SABC and monitor its preparations for the 2026 Local Government Elections, including progress in securing the resources required to execute its election mandate.