by Thinus Ferreira
The South African government is silent after plans leaked that the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) plans to start its own video streaming service at a cost of over R1 billion.
The Rapport and City Press newspapers on Sunday quoted sources noting that the GCIS is working on setting up its own over-the-top (OTT) streaming service, budgeted to cost around R1 billion, and already started canvassing for presenters, camera operators and voice-over artists in all 11 languages.
After the SABC launched its own SABC+ video streaming in mid-November, and the parastatal signal distributor Sentech had said it also has plans to start a streaming service, the GCIS plan is raising eyebrows since the SABC just reported yet another annual loss of R1.13 billion saying the government isn't doing enough financially to help fund the public broadcaster's so-called unfunded broadcast mandate.
William Baloyi, GCIS spokesperson, told TVwithThinus on Tuesday morning in response to a media query asking about the OTT setup and for confirmation and clarity around its cost that "For now we are not in a position to offer any comment, however we will make the announcement at the appropriate time".
It's unclear what the GCIS streaming service would show with parliamentary coverage already carried on parliamentary TV channels and on parliament's existing YouTube channel.
Natasha Mazzone, shadow minister of communications of the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party on Tuesday said the DA will submit a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to the presidency over the GCIS' plan "to develop a streaming service, which will cost the taxpayer R1 billion".
Natasha Mazzone said that communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni must urgently provide answers.
"A government streaming
service is not only a waste of taxpayer funds but is also unnecessary, as GCIS
already makes use of social media platforms and YouTube for its broadcasts," she says.
"Parliament also shares its broadcasts on YouTube with no issues. Further, the
SABC, South Africa's public broadcaster, already has a streaming platform, as
it seeks to make its constitutional mandate more accessible to the public."
"GCIS' plans seek to contradict the SABC. This once again
demonstrates how out of touch and depth this administration has become, with
little regard for the genuine interests of South Africans."
