SABC needs to reposition itself

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane says there is a need for the South African Broadcast Corporation (SABC) to reposition itself.

“We cannot continue with the SABC of 1948,” Mokonyane said.

Addressing staff at the SABC in Polokwane during her visit on Friday, Mokonyane said there is a need for people (staff) to be reskilled.

“What is important is to be the best SABC. All of us here must be radical with change and we must be ambassadors of the SABC,” the Minister said.

Mokonyane told the staff members that there is a need for them to be reskilled and acquaint themselves with new technology.

She encouraged staff members to be creative and introduce new ideas.

“Digitisation makes us look better and smart,” the Minister said, adding that people want to hear or to listen to new things.

“There is no need for many turnaround strategies, work on the one you currently have. You need to be creative and those of you who are old must be reskilled so you can use modern technology,” the Minister said.

Mokonyane told staff members that they must be proud of the work they are doing.

“You should be proud that you are serving the nation,” she said, adding that they must continue doing the good work.

Prior to addressing staff members, Mokonyane, upon her arrival, was ushered to the radio studios where a simulcast broadcast was conducted for Phalaphala FM, Mongana Lonene and Thobela FM.

Digital broadcasting

The Minister told radio listeners that Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is at an advance stage and that it is coming to their province.

Government is providing free STBs to five million poor TV-owning households across the country.

Digital broadcasting works by translating sound and picture into digital data rather than analogue waveforms. The process is key for opening up more frequencies and faster mobile broadband services.

Poor households, who qualify for the government subsidy, are urged to register for free STBs at their respective local Post Office branches.

In order to qualify, households must earn less than R3 200 per month.

She told the listeners that the Free State province would be next to receive it, followed by other provinces.

Residents living in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) community of Keimoes and Kai Garib in the Northern Cape were the first people in South Africa to experience DTT in the country following the unveiling of the registration process for STBs in the area in October 2015.

Minister Mokonyane visited the Polokwane SABC as part of her regional public broadcaster visits.

The Polokwane SABC offices were the first to be visited by the Minister.

During her visit, the Minister engaged staff members on challenges affecting them in their regions. – SAnews.gov.za