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AfriForum welcomes the announcement that the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will move its Afrikaans TV news bulletins back to an earlier time slot from July and that it is considering that all bulletins may once again be broadcasted on SABC2 only.

AfriForum objected to the changing of broadcast times and channels from the outset, pointing to the potential loss of viewers and advertising revenue that this could entail. Since then, the reaction of the viewing public has confirmed that these concerns were justified.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, the SABC’s turnaround proves the value of public pressure. “Management now acknowledges that the strong reaction from institutions such as AfriForum and the broader public has made them reconsider these decisions, which confirms why people should participate in campaigns and petitions against senseless decisions by public institutions,” she says.

Bailey further believes that it is tragic that the implementation of ill-considered or ideologically- driven decisions first have to cause great damage before it is acknowledged that these amounted to mistakes. “AfriForum welcomes undertakings that more attention will be paid to Afrikaans programmes and news bulletins in future, but unfortunately the damage has already been done. There is no guarantee that it will be possible to lure lost viewers and advertisers back.”

“On 9 April 2025, AfriForum made a formal request to the SABC in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (also known as PAIA) to demand answers about the future of Afrikaans TV news broadcasts. No response has been received yet and AfriForum therefore followed up the request with an appeal last week. We will also monitor whether the SABC will adhere to the latest undertakings,” Bailey adds.

She emphasises that for many people the SABC provides the only TV news service they have access to and that it is therefore important to ensure that the service will be continued and managed sustainably.

Issued by AfriForum