''We haven't really launched the SABC's 24 hour news channel on the date that we had targeted but the process is underway because we now are engaging the department of communications and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) in assisting to put in place what will be required for the launch of the 24 hour service,'' dr Ben Ngubane told parliament's portfolio committee on communications.
The SABC that is calling its 24 hour news channel News24 - at least for now - initially intended to to launch the new digital channel from 1 April 2011 but missed that target date. Then the SABC told parliament earlier this year that it's new target date is 1 October to launch News24. That date also seems unlikely.
''The news division of the SABC has been working on this project for quite some time now,'' Phil Molefe, the SABC's acting group CEO told parliament. ''We're building a studio fascility for this project, so a great deal of progress has been made and we're ready for this project.''
''Yes, there are areas that still need to be addressed,'' Phil Molefe said. ''This is largely around the question of funding for the 24 hour news channel. We have made submissions for funding to the department of communications for funding.''
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