Portfolio Committee
Portfolio Committee to fast-track communications legislation amid warnings of SABC collapse and Post Office challenges, as chairperson Khusela Sangoni-Diko stresses the need to modernise outdated laws for a digital future in South Africa.
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has announced plans to prioritise and speed up new laws in the coming weeks to update the sector’s rules, which are seen as stuck in the past and unable to keep up with rapid changes in technology. Chairperson Khusela Sangoni-Diko highlighted that current laws, made for an old analogue world, are holding back progress in areas like artificial intelligence, e-commerce, the internet of things, and blockchain.
“Our communications laws were largely designed for an analogue era and are not fit for purpose in a fast-changing digital environment characterised by artificial intelligence, e-commerce, internet of things, blockchain and many other technologies. This outdated framework hampers innovation, delays transformation, and constrains the ability of entities such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Sentech, South African Post Office (SAPO) and the Postbank to adapt to new realities,” Sangoni-Diko said.
In the next few weeks, the committee will focus on adopting bills started by the committee itself. “The committee will prioritise and fast-track law-making to modernise this legislative environment for an inclusive, agile and secured society. Amongst the priorities will be legislation for the preservation and protection of the media, amendments where necessary to the Electronic Communications Act and the overarching legislation, to govern the so-called over-the-top services for platform accountability, should government not move with the requisite speed. Ours is to ensure that our legal framework keeps pace with global technological advancements,” she added.
This push comes as the committee raises alarms about the dire state of key state-owned entities. The SABC is on the brink of total collapse, burdened by huge debts, old equipment, and an funding model that no longer works. Sangoni-Diko warned that without quick fixes, the public broadcaster could face a complete blackout, putting thousands of jobs at risk and threatening the whole public and community broadcasting sector.
“Sentech, in turn, is bleeding more than R70 million per month subsidising the broadcaster’s signal costs. Yet the SABC Bill – essential to ensuring sustainability – remains stalled in Parliament. As the SABC is teetering on the brink of collapse, jobs livelihoods and the sustainability of the public and community broadcasting sector is threatened.”
She called on the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to talk urgently with National Treasury about investing in the SABC. “The public broadcaster has not had a technology or infrastructure refresh in more than a decade. The SABC is not looking for a bailout. Government has a responsibility to invest in this strategic asset and recapitalise it where necessary. The time for decisive action is now; otherwise, South Africa risks losing its public broadcaster altogether,” the chairperson said.
The SABC Bill, which aims to create a better funding setup and help the broadcaster compete in the digital age, has been delayed for months, leaving the corporation in limbo. Recent committee meetings have shown growing frustration over this hold-up, with calls for the bill to be pushed through to stop further financial bleeding. The broadcaster has faced ongoing cash flow problems, including unpaid bills and staff worries about job security, all made worse by competition from streaming services and private media.
On digital migration, Sangoni-Diko urged the department and the minister to wrap it up once and for all. South Africa missed the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) deadline in 2015, and since then, deadlines have been pushed back again and again. “Since missing the ITU deadline in 2015, government has repeatedly postponed analogue switch-off. Ten years later, South Africa continues to squander the economic and technological benefits of digital migration. Digital content creators are calling for space on the channels promised to them as part of the benefits on migration. We call on the department and the Minister to bring this matter to finality,” she said.
Completing the switch from analogue to digital TV would free up valuable spectrum for better internet services, boost the economy, and open doors for new content makers. But delays have cost the country dearly, with millions still relying on old signals and missing out on modern broadcasting perks. The process, meant to modernise TV and radio, has been hit by setbacks like funding shortages and slow rollout of set-top boxes for poorer homes.
For the South African Post Office, the committee said it must find new ways to make money and use its buildings and networks for more services. “Two years into business rescue, progress at SAPO has been slow and costly, with almost R250 million spent on business rescue practitioner fees and thousands of jobs lost. While we welcome signs of stabilisation, a sustainable turnaround plan remains elusive. Despite its challenges, the Post Office remains a strategic state institution which is a lifeline for many underserved communities. We must leverage its strengths,” Sangoni-Diko said.
The Post Office has shed over 6,000 jobs since going into business rescue in 2023, and branches have closed in many areas, leaving people without basic services like mail delivery and banking. The committee wants SAPO to team up with other government bodies to offer things like e-government services or logistics for online shopping, turning its wide reach into a strength. Recent reports show some steps forward, like paying off some debts, but a full recovery plan is still needed to avoid more closures.
On a brighter note, the committee praised advances in SA Connect, the government’s broadband project. Over 3,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots have been set up, reaching about four million people, mostly in rural spots and helping young folks get online. “Young people and people in rural areas are beginning to access the opportunities the digital world offers. However much more remains to be done. Meaningful school connectivity remains a pipe dream for many learners. We call on the Departments of Communications and Digital Technologies and Basic Education to prioritise this urgently,” she said.
School internet is key for learning in today’s world, but many classrooms still lack it, widening the gap between rich and poor areas. The committee has pushed for faster rollout, linking it to broader goals like job creation and skills training in the digital economy.
These statements came during a briefing by chairpersons of Parliament’s economic cluster, where Sangoni-Diko outlined the committee’s plans for the rest of the 2024-2029 term. The group has held several meetings this year, including talks with mobile network operators on data costs and coverage, and briefings from entities like Sentech and Broadband Infraco on infrastructure.
The committee also set conditions on budgets for bodies like the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), calling for quicker reforms on laws for the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) and Brand South Africa. It wants to see more spending on local media and better government ads to support the industry.
Looking ahead, the committee aims to amend the Electronic Communications Act to cover new tech like over-the-top services (think streaming platforms), ensuring they follow rules on content and taxes. This would help local players compete fairly and protect users online.
South Africa’s digital sector is growing fast, but old laws are slowing it down. By updating them, the country could unlock jobs in tech, improve services, and bridge the digital divide. The committee’s focus on fast action shows a commitment to making sure no one is left behind in the shift to a connected society.
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