'Be fast or I will fire you, I will really fire you': South Africa's former communications minister, Faith Muthambi, faces criminal charges after release of the report of the SABC's Commission of Inquiry into editorial interference and abuse at the public broadcaster.

South Africa's former communications minister, Faith Muthambi, faces criminal charges after the release of the report of the SABC's Commission of Inquiry into editorial interference and abuse at the public broadcaster in which Fath Muthambi's meddling in the editorial management of the SABC was noted.

On Monday the Commission of Inquiry into editorial interference at South Africa's public broadcaster reported that it found that the "spectre of the ANC hovered over the newsroom", that ministerial interference into the newsroom of the SABC took place, and found 'bullying and trauma" and a "work environment crippled with fear, anxiety, resentment and tensions".

Phumzile Van Damme, member of parliament of the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party said that "the DA will be laying criminal charges against Faith Muthambi".

The report of the Commission of Inquiry into interference in the decision-making in the newsroom of the SABC revealed that "from 2012 until 2017, SABC executives took instructions from people who had no authority in their newsrooms, such as former SABC chairperson Ellen Tshabalala, and Faith Muthambi", who insisted her constituency work be covered by news teams.

Phumzile Van Damme says that the "former communications minister Faith Muthambi not only violated the Broadcasting Act but also misled parliament during the SABC inquiry of 2016. This was in direct contravention of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act".

Faith Muthambi is alleged to have insulted members of SABC News crews dispatched on her orders to cover her events the Commission found.

When one such SABC News crew arrived at one of the Faith Muthambi-ordered events, she told the "to be fast or I will fire you, I will really fire you". 

"Then she picked on this young lady and told her she looked fat and that she wasn't dressed appropriately. The journalist was wearing a nice shirt and a nice skirt".

Phumzile Van Damme says that during Faith Muthambi's testimony in parliament during the inquiry into the SABC, Faith Muthambi said she had never interfered in editorial decisions

"Given the findings in today’s report strengthens the findings made by Parliamentary Legal Services in August 2017 that she has 'tried to mislead Parliament'," said Phumzile Van Damme.

The report "should serve as a stern warning to the ANC not to engage in political interference at the SABC".

ALSO READ: Commission of inquiry into editorial interference at South Africa's public broadcaster finds 'spectre of the ANC hovered over the newsroom', ministerial interference; 'bullying and trauma' and 'work environment crippled with fear, anxiety, resentment and tensions'.
ALSO READ: After release of Commission of Inquiry's report into SABC editorial meddling the South African National Editor's Forum urges 'new custodians of the SABC newsroom to safeguard' it from future interference. 
ALSO READ: SOS Coalition says Commission of Inquiry's report into SABC editorial meddling doesn't go far enough while former bosses 'Jimmy Matthews and Hlaudi Motsoeneng continue to live as symbols of South Africa's culture of impunity'.

Treasury orders the South African public broadcaster to take action against corrupt executives, sell off 'non-core assets, scrap non-performing activities and recoup expenditure on content if the SABC wants access to bailout billions.

South Africa's National Treasury has ordered the beleaguered South African public broadcaster to take action against former corrupt executives like CEO James Aguma, COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng and even the former communications minister Faith Muthambi before Treasury would give the SABC access to the billions in another bailout the broadcaster is urgently seeking.

The SABC has also been ordered to sell off "non-core" assets, scrap underperforming operations and to recoup expenditure on content.

The Sunday Times on Sunday reported that one of the stringent conditions Treasury has imposed on the SABC in order to get money from the government's emergency reserve fund, is to investigate and take action against former executives and others implicated in corruption and mismanagement.

The SABC is in dire need of at least R3.2 billion in the short term and over R6 billion over the long term.

Treasury ordered the SABC to report on what the financially destroyed broadcaster is doing to hold corrupt executives and others to account who mismanaged and ran the SABC into the ground.

It means that James Aguma, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Sully Motsweni, Thobekile Khumalo, Faith Muthambi and others could face possible civil and criminal legal action from the SABC.

South Africa's National Assembly in parliament this week approved the Appropriation Bill of Tito Mboweni, minister of finance, allowing for the South African government's contingency reserve funding to be used to give another bailout to collapsed state-owned entities like Eskom, South African Airways (SAA) and the SABC.

It's however not clear when the SABC will actually receive any bailout money, or how much it will be.

Earlier in July Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, the current minister of finance, lied to the South African public and the country's TV and broadcasting industry and said that the SABC would receive "interim financial relief from Treasury within 10 days", with the balance of the bailout request 45 days after that.

This didn't happen.

Earlier this week Treasury revealed in parliament that it ordered the SABC by letter in April 2019 to meet 11 conditions before it can access the R3.2 billion bailout money it asked for, Dondo Mogajane, Treasury director-general, said on Wednesday in parliament.

These conditions he said "relates to getting the SABC in order so that it can sustain itself financially".

Other conditions imposed on the SABC by Treasury before it can get bailout money include the SABC identifying which "non-core" assets it has that can be sold off and when this can happen, as well as internal revenue-raising plans.

Other conditions are that the SABC has to identify and scrap non-performing activities and remove non-core operations, that the SABC must maximise advertising opportunities and advertising revenue, and that the SABC must somehow get a return on the investment on the expenditure on content.

SABC abruptly cancels Frankly Speaking on SABC3 and SABC News, former spin doctor and presenter JJ Tabane gone and also fired from Power FM.

The SABC has abruptly and quietly cancelled Frankly Speaking with the former spin doctor JJ Tabane broadcast on SABC3 and SABC News (DStv 404), with JJ Tabane that was also fired by the MSG Africa owned radio station Power FM where he was the Power Perspective presenter.

While the SABC issued no statement nor programming advisory, JJ Tabane at the top of this past Sunday's episode of Frankly Speaking announced that his interview with Gwede Mantashe, ANC chairperson and mining resources minister, will be "the final episode of Frankly Speaking with me Onkgopotse JJ Tabane".

At the tail-end of the show he again said "that was the final episode of Frankly Speaking. I hope you found it useful."

Frankly Speaking was added to SABC3 and SABC News from 11 February this year, with the SABC that made no announcement prior to this Sunday's abrupt final episode that the programme is cancelled or why.

During the testimony of the ongoing state capture inquiry, Phumla Williams, the as acting head of the GCIS, spoke about the horrific things she endured under the disgraced former communications minister, Faith Muthambi.

JJ Tabane as a spin doctor helped Faith Muthambi as part of one of her advisory panels.

In a tweet JJ Tabane said "Sorry to Phumla Williams for having been complicit in your oppression by Faith Muthambi. I am ashamed of any role I had in it. Ready to appear before Zondo to testify."

A fight then ensued with Chris Vick, who took JJ Tabane to task, saying "But you used to work for Faith Muthambi when she was communications minister, bro. Didn’t you set up that huge advisory panel for her (the one I resigned from) and write those ridiculous opinion pieces in her name? Weren’t you advising her?"

Power FM that first suspended JJ Tabane, announced that he was fired from Power FM with immediate effect, on Monday, a day after his final Frankly Speaking episode on the SABC's SABC News.

"JJ Tabane committed serious material breaches of the provisions of our independent contractor agreement rendering it impossible to continue a contractual relationship with him," said Bob Mabena, Power FM's station manager on Monday.

"As a trust-anchored platform that disseminates and facilitates critical national conversations, POWER 98.7 strives to ensure that such conversations are conducted authentically, truthfully and credibly".

Special Investigating Unit (SIU) issues a summons against SABC's former controversial COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, liable to pay back a staggering R21 million to the public broadcaster.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has issued a summons against the former controversial and famously matricless SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng for more than R21 million that he owes the public broadcaster and has to pay back, says the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party's member of parliament, Phumzile Van Damme.

The R21 million includes the staggering R11.4 million bonus - called a "success fee" - the SABC paid Hlaudi Motsoeneng and is MultiChoice money that was paid to him through the SABC for the controversial SABC and DStv channels deal to provide SABC Encore and SABC News to MultiChoice's satellite pay-TV platform.

The R21 million also includes another R10.5 million payable to the SABC related to irregular SABC appointments, as well as the firing of staff.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng caused horrific damage at the SABC on all levels during his executive tenure, plunging the SABC into a financial crisis as credibility, staff morale, governance, pay control, commissioning and management on every level at the SABC over the past 3 years took a massive blow.

"It is to be welcomed that action against Hlaudi Motsoeneng continues," says Phumzile Van Damme.

"It cannot be that individuals like Hlaudi Motsoeneng loot public institutions, resign or are dismissed and there is no further action. All stolen money must be returned to the public purse. We therefore welcome the SIU’s action in this regard."

Phumzile Van Damme says that the SIU is investigating 8 contracts that were identified as "dodgy" during the SABC ad-hoc inquiry, including the "questionable R460 million contract with MultiChoice".

"Hlaudi Motsoeneng is however not the only person implicated in the SABC ad hoc inquiry report. Compromised individuals such as James Aguma [former SABC acting CEO] and especially former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, must also be prosecuted for any wrongdoing".

The SIU will hand over the interim presidential report on its investigations into these dodgy SABC and MultiChoice contracts to the Office of the President on 31 May.

The Right2Know Campaign 'deeply concerned' over MultiChoice's dodgy dealings with SABC, ANN7; calls for Public Protector and parliamentary investigations.

The Right2Know Campaign has been weighing in on Naspers' widening scandal that has engulfed its pay-TV arm MultiChoice and its alleged dodgy dealings and contracts with the SABC and the controversial ANN7 channel from the Guptas, calling for urgent investigations by both the Public Protector and parliament.

At issue is whether the media conglom's lucrative pay-TV unit is or was involved in undue pressure to get the controversial Gupta family through their ANN7 channel, and the SABC, to exercise pressure in return for getting their TV news channels carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

Explosive, leaked meeting transcripts between MultiChoice and the South African public broadcaster the SABC, as well as #GuptaLeaks contracts between MultiChoice and the controversial ANN7 D(Stv 405) channel showing massive payments from DStv to the Guptas, have raised multiple serious questions over corporate impropriety.

MultiChoice told the SABC it would pay the broadcaster R100 million for the SABC News channel but but only on the strict must-have contract clause condition that the SABC must support MultiChoice's stance on conditional access (CA) for digital television.

MultiChoice also dramatically upped its payments from R50 million per year to R100 million per year and then R141 million per year, as well as a questionable, additional R25 million payment to the Guptas for the low-rated, bad quality, mistake-filled and often criticised ANN7.

MultiChoice is paying ANN7 more despite its barely there low ratings than eNCA (DStv 403) that has more than 50% of the overall TV news audience share.

It's all created the perception that MultiChoice has paid kickbacks to both the SABC and ANN7 to use its influence to get set-top box (STB) encryption dropped from government-subsidised STBs in the switch to digital terrestrial television (DTT).

MultiChoice and Naspers have denied the kickbacks allegations and the MultiChoice board announced that MultiChoice is starting an internal investigation of itself.

The Right2Know Campaign in a statement says it is "deeply worried by recent media revelations of suspect correspondence between, and dodgy payments from, MultiChoice to SABC and ANN7."

"R2K intends to lodge a complaint with the Public Protector and has written to parliament's communications committee to launch an inquiry."

"It is insinuated that these payments from MultiChoice to the Gupta-linked ANN7 and the SABC were intended as kickbacks to influence government policy on encryption of digital terrestrial television (DTT) signals."

"At the centre of this appears to be Faith Muthambi who then presided over the department of communications, and who is alleged to have pursued MultiChoice’s market dominance agenda in concert with various Gupta associates."

"This would suggest blatant corruption on the part of MultiChoice and Faith Muthambi to advantage themselves in the disastrous roll-out of digital TV, which has seriously undermined the public's right to know."

"If MultiChoice is innocent it should welcome the parliament and the Public Protector's probes," says the Right2Know Campaign.

"It should be noted, though, that this is not the first time there have been revelations of irregularities surrounding digital TV and set-top boxes (STBs)."

"Media reports have also linked Altech UEC and Mxolisi Saady Zuma, the president’s son, to STB procurement bribery."

"The Gupta family has sought to influence government policy on digital TV in order to make money for their various businesses since 2012 when they invited Dina Pule, who was the communications minister then, to their house for canvassing."

"Right2Know notes that the department of communication has to date not released the report of the investigation into alleged STB corruption which was commissioned by the National Treasury and conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers."

"R2K has therefore written to parliament’s communications committee calling for an urgent probe into the dealings between MultiChoice, Faith Muthambi and the Guptas, and also will lodge a complaint with the Office of the Public Protector demanding an urgent probe."

"R2K demands that these probes be initiated immediately with the outcomes being publicised in 3 months".

As the scandal that has engulfed DStv keeps growing over dealings with the Guptas and ANN7, MultiChoice finally relents after public pressure; says it will now investigate possible corruption.

MultiChoice has finally bowed under growing public pressure as a widening scandal involving its massive payments to the controversial Gupta family for the ANN7 (DStv 405) channel has engulfed the pay-TV operator running the DStv service, and said on Friday morning that MultiChoice will now conduct an investigation into possible corruption and governance failures.

On Tuesday this week TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice if it will possibly undertake or is going to undertake any investigation following the various #GuptaLeaks emails, contracts and email trail linking MultiChoice, the disgraced former minister of communictions, the Gupta family and the ANN7 TV channel.

MultiChoice didn't want to give any clear yes or no answer and simply said in response to the media enquiry that there was nothing unusual or inappropriate about its interactions with the minister and its contract with ANN7.

The past week, since last Friday's latest revelations of allegedly inappropriate dealings between MultiChoice and the Guptas over ANN7 - including questionable payments together with exorbitant amounts of money paid by DStv to the Guptas for the highly-criticised and low quality ANN7 channel - MultiChoice and Naspers has been enveloped in a growing tsunami of bad press and an avalanche of public criticism.

MultiChoice upped its payments to ANN7 from R50 million per year to R100 million per year and then a whopping R141 million per year and threw in a questionable R25 million once-off payment.

These MultiChoice payments have been made while ANN7 has remained mired in biased, slanted coverage and has been accused of fostering racial discord in South Africa through its one-sided coverage - particularly contantly slating politicians and people who are against State Capture and president Jacob Zuma's alleged looting of the public purse.

Meanwhile ANN7's on-air mistakes and embarrassing gaffes, including low production values continues unabated.

On Friday morning MultiChoice issued a statement saying that because MultiChoice's reputation has been "negatively impacted" it will now launch a probe into the ANN7 deal and whether there's been any corporate governance failures at MultiChoice".

MultiChoice is investigating itself, instead of any independent, external investigation by group owner Naspers where Naspers chairperson Koos Bekker has been dismissive of criticism from the public and investors about possible corrupt dealings by MultiChoice, and where CEO Bob van Dijk bristled with irritation in the week when asked by Naspers isn't investigating the allegations.

MultiChoice isn't saying whether the outcome of the investigation will be made public once it has been concluded.

In the MultiChoice statement, attributed to Don Eriksson, an independent non-executive director in his role as the chairperson of MultiChoice's audit and risk committees, Don Eriksson said the MultiChoice board is "aware that the ANN7 channel has caused real public concern".

"The MultiChoice board has read the various media reports alleging that MultiChoice has entered into an irregular relationship for the carriage of the ANN7 channel".

"The board is aware that the ANN7 channel has caused real public concern because of the allegations of corruption levelled at the former owners of the channel".

"These allegations have negatively impacted the reputation of MultiChoice. The MultiChoice board has therefore instructed its audit and risk committees to assess whether there has been any corporate governance failures at MultiChoice and report back to the board".

"Based on what is contained in that report, the MultiChoice board will take the necessary action; assess whether the total amount paid to ANN7 is comparable to payments made for other locally-produced channels with due consideration being given to the estimated costs of running a 24-hour news channel."

MultiChoice says it will also "draw on any expertise and skills necessary in order to fulfil the mandate given by the board".

"In addition, Adv Kgomotso Moroka, one of the MultiChoice board members, was requested by the board and has agreed to, assist the audit and risk committees in this matter".

After MultiChoice paid the controversial Gupta family - involved in widespread allegations of State Capture and improper transactions with multiple state-owned enterprises and other companies worth billions of rand - the Guptas earlier this year sold ANN7 to Mzwanele "Jimmy" Manyi's Afrotone Media Holdings.

Democratic Alliance once again calls on Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to urgently investigate SA's botched digital TV switch and bungled set-top box tenders 'marred by irregularity and corruption'.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party is once again calling for an urgent investigation into South Africa's controversial procurement process of the government-sponsored set-top boxes (STBs) needed for the government's long-delayed and botched switch to digital terrestrial television (DTT),a process known as digital migration.

The Democratic Alliance member of parliament, Marian Shinn, says South Africa's Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, can no longer ignore the urgent need for a wide-ranging probe into the STB mess.

The renewed call comes as even MultiChoice, providing the DStv satellite pay-TV service, is now being dragged into South Africa's DTT mess.

Marian Shinn says in a statement that the DA party has once again written to the Public Protector to ask that the Public Protector's office proceed with the investigation as South Africa's switch to DTT from analogue broadcasting - something that is years behind schedule - "is marred by irregularity and corruption, which needs to be urgently investigated".

The DA says its initial request to the Public Protector, acknowledged on 8 August 2017, was for her office to probe the procurement process for the government-subsidised set-top boxes,to investigate alleged tender irregularities and possible unlawful decision-making, and to determine whether the digital migration process needs to be "cancelled and rerun".

"Three months later and there seems to be little to no process," says Marian Shinn.

"This past week the #GuptaLeaks revealed how Tony Gupta acted as a channel between MultiChoice - a key protagonist in the set-top box encryption battle - and former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, to change the digital terrestrial broadcasting policy in MultiChoice's favour, which she did."

"Today is has come to light that the Haws raided 13 of the 26 firms involved in the STB tender, following a 10-month investigation by the Competition Commission into collusion in the process."

"These revelations, in conjunction with the PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) investigation into the process, clearly indicate serious procurement irregularities or criminal acts had been commited and must be acted upon," says Marian Shinn.

"Repeated requests to the chairpersons of the communications and telecommunications and postal services portfolio committees to hold 2-day hearings into the entire digital terrestrial broadcasting process have also failed to materialise, despite being included in the committee programmes of each term this year," says Marian Shinn.

Minister of communications, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, wants to cut down the SABC board from 12 to 9 members and reduce quorum number to just 7 people.

South Africa's minister of communications, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, wants to dowsize the board of South Africa's troubled public broadcaster by cutting down the tally of SABC board members from 12 to just 9, and the number needed for a quorum to just 7.

A downsized SABC board will make the South African public broadcaster, plagued by government and political interference, even more susceptible to potential politically motivated "push through" rubber-stamp decisions, something that in the past led to major turmoil not just within the SABC board, but inside the whole operational workings of the SABC as a broadcaster.

The Sunday Independent reports that Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane supports the hugely controversial bill, introduced by her shamed and destructive predecessor, Faith Muthambi, to cut down the SABC board from 12 to 9 people and to reduce the number of board members necessary for a quorum.

The bill, if passed, will also give South Africa's minister of communications sweeping powers to usurp the hiring and firing of SABC board members.

While South Africa's president currently has the power to recommend the appointment and removal of SABC board members, that power will move to the minister of communications - something that will turn the SABC from a public, into a state broadcaster.

Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane is also planning to appeal a very lengthy, and clear cut judgment of the High Court that confirmed that the SABC board - not the minister of communications - is the authority to appoint the SABC's top-most executives.

The SABC is currently limping along without a permanent CEO, COO or CFO, with all three positions that continue to be filled by executives in acting positions.

Democratic Alliance party calls for parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice, ANN7 and Faith Muthambi; wants MultiChoice to publicly release its Gupta-TV contracts and dealings.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party is calling on MultiChoice to publicly release its Gupta contract for the controversial ANN7 (DStv 405) channel that DStv subscribers are paying R141.38 million per year for, and wants a public parliamentary inquiry to be held about the contract, MultiChoice's questionable payments of millions, and the involvement of the former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi.

The DA political party's call for a parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice is similar to the call by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party also asking for  a parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice's allegedly "corrupt" and "unethical" dealings with the controversial Gupta family and its highly-criticised ANN7 channel.

The calls for a parliamentary inquiry comes after fresh #GuptaLeaks revelations of the hundreds of millions of rand MultiChoice has been paying the controversial Gupta family who are linked to State Capture in South Africa.

"The DA calls on MultiChoice to publicly release the full contracts it entered into with the Gupta-owed TV station, ANN7, as well as the record of the prior negotiations," says Phumzile Van Damme, Democratic Alliance member of parliament.

"If there is indeed nothing untoward about the nature of its dealings with the Gupta family, MultiChoice will have no issue publishing the requested documents for public scrutiny."

"Should it fail to do so within 48 hours, the DA will request that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) force it to do so."

"In terms of Faith Muthambi's unsurprising involvement, the DA will write to the chairperson of parliament's communications committee, Humphrey Maxegwana, requesting that the now overdue inquiry into state capture, as was requested of the committee by the deputy speaker of parliament, Lechesa Tsenoli, be scheduled as the first item on the committee's agenda in 2018."

Phumzile Van Damme says "the DA looks forward to MultiChoice's feedback and questioning of Faith Muthambi during the inquiry."

"This time she cannot be allowed to escape without being held accountable, if wrongdoing is found."

Political parties demand parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice's allegedly 'corrupt' and 'unethical' dealings with Gupta-linked ANN7 and Faith Muthambi.

Political parties are demanding a parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice's allegedly "corrupt" and "unethical" dealings with the controversial Gupta family and its highly-criticised ANN7 channel, as well as the controversial former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi.

Both the Economic Freedom Front (EFF) and Democratic Alliance (DA) reacted swiftly to fresh revelations that MultiChoice is paying ANN7 a staggering R141 380 000 per year for the low-rated and little watched channel.

ANN7 has been much criticised for its ongoing mistakes, biased coverage and for allegedly inciting racial discord in South Africa using DStv's platform to do so.

MultiChoice also made a dubious R25 million once-off payment to the Guptas for ANN7.

Both the Economic Freedom Front (EFF) and Democratic Alliance (DA) political parties on Friday called for a parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice's allegedly "corrupt" dealings with the Guptas and politicians over the ANN7 channel.

The DA's member of parliament Phumzile Van Damme told TVwithThinus that "we believe that this issue be investigated by parliament, as part of the broader State Capture inquiries undertaken by the different committees in Parliament."

"We are in particular seriously concerned about MultiChoice, and what appears to be unethical conduct in this regard relating to the Gupta family. We intend on getting to the bottom of this."

The EFF's member of parliament Mbuyiseni Ndlozi in a statement says "The EFF condemns the corrupt relations of MultiChoice and Faith Muthambi which suppressed competition within the pay-TV industry with disgust".

"The recent revelations in the #GuptaLeaks show how Faith Muthambi as minister of communications worked with the Guptas to solicit bribes in exchange for protection of MultiChoice from the competition".

"Koos Bekker's company, MultiChoice, paid millions to the Guptas, through ANN7, in exchange for Faith Muthambi to adopt the policy of unencryption in the set-top boxes for digital terrestrial television (DTT) migration."

"The Guptas, through their influence on Jacob Zuma and Faith Muthambi, managed to guarantee their stay on the DStv platform whilst being remunerated unreasonable amounts of money despite their low audience numbers," says Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

"It is clear that MultiChoice was paying them for securing a DTT policy in relation to set-top boxes that would maintain them as the sole players in the pay-TV space."

'The EFF calls on parliament to hold an inquiry into the Gupta influence over Faith Muthambi. In this inquiry, companies like MultiChoice must be held accountable publicly for their criminal activities in the sector, suppressing competition in favour of their domination."

"The EFF will also be reporting MultiChoice to the Competition Commission to investigate how they influenced the policy on set-top boxes in favour of their market domination."

More #GuptaLeaks engulfs MultiChoice in growing scandal over its controversial ANN7 contract; says there's nothing wrong paying ANN7 R141 380 000 per year.

More #GuptaLeaks revelations are engulfing MultiChoice in a growing scandal over its controversial ANN7 contract with the Guptas, with MultiChoice saying there's nothing wrong with paying ANN7 an eye-watering R141 380 000 per year for the low-rated, highly criticised and mistake-filled channel.

MultiChoice brand damage continues to increase as MultiChoice is being battered by ongoing new shocking revelations regarding its ANN7 (DStv 405) contract with the controversial Gupta family who are embroiled in State Capture claims.

MultiChoice itself is now being accused of corruption and collusion with the Guptas and tainted politicians like Faith Muthambi, by a growing chorus of the public and political parties.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party has given MultiChoice an ultimatum, saying DStv has 48 hours to make its contracts and prior negotiations with the Guptas over ANN7 public, or the DA will request the broadcasting regulator, Icasa, to compel MultiChoice to do so.

The Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political parties are also calling for a public parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice, its dealings and contracts with the Guptas over ANN7, and the former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi.

In shocking new #GuptaLeaks, News24 on Friday dropped a bombshell email trove, showing how MultiChoice made a dubious R25 million payment to the Guptas for its low-rated, biased and mistake-filled trash channel, in addition to upping the money MultiChoice pays to ANN7 from R50 million to a whopping R141 million per year.

The emails revealed that MultiChoice is paying ANN7 R141.38 million as part of its contract for the channel, a channel that stands accused of fostering racial discord, biased and unbalanced coverage and targeting politicians who are against president Jacob Zuma.

According to a 4th channel amendment agreement signed by Glen Marques in September 2015, MultiChoice upped its payment from R50 million to R100 million to a staggering R141 380 000 per year although ANN7 is the least watched of the three local TV news channels with SABC News and eNCA as rivals.

Ironically MultiChoice is splurging more money on ANN7 - although it only has a fraction of the viewership in the form of a paltry 8.9% news audience share - that what DStv is paying eMedia Investment's eNCA (DStv 403) that is now only getting R140.8 million from MultiChoice although it is the most watched TV news channel on all of DStv's platform with over 50% news audience share.

MultiChoice told News24 that when it decided to add ANN7 from the Gupas' Infinity Media Network, "the only other channel on the DStv platform at that stage was eNCA".

MultiChoice then says "The eNCA contract was up for renewal, and there were signs that it was not going to be renewed".

Also raising eyebrows in the latest #GuptaLeaks regarding ANN7 is how a MultiChoice executive, Clarissa Mack - now gone from DStv - directly sent policy documents - a "Effect of presidential proclamation"document in July 2014 to the then minister of communications Faith Muthambi about government policy.

Faith Muthambi, shockingly, then sent this MultiChoice document to Ashu Chawla of the Guptas, detailing how to give Faith Muthambi control over broadcasting in South Africa.

Clarissa Mack also created another document about signal distributors Sentech and Infraco that she sent from MultiChoice to Faith Muthambi - a document Faith Muthambi shockingly also sent to Ashu Chawla.

"See attached Proclamation that President must sign," Faith Muthambi wrote to Ashu Chawla, who then forwarded it to Tony Gupta.

In another eye-popping revelation, the then MultiChoice CEO Imtiaz Patel suddenly got listed as a director, along with Tony Gupta, and Jacob Zuma's son, Duduzane, in the same company, IslandsiteInvestments 255.

MultiChoice says it was only for a day, happened without Imtiaz Patel's knowledge and that he resigned and removed his name from the company register on the very same day he was appointed.


MultiChoice: Nothing unusual about paying ANN7 R141 380 000 per year
After the News24 story, TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice why Clarissa Mack while she worked for MultiChoice sent documents directly to Faith Muthambi and why MultiChoice increased the ANN7 payment from R50 million, then R100 million, to R141.38 million if ANN7 under-performed and received widespread criticism for its content.

MultiChoice was asked why the then CEO Imtiaz Patel was listed as director of a company with Tony Gupta and Jacob Zuma's son Duduzane Zuma and why MultiChoice made a once-off payment of R25 million to the Guptas for ANN7.

MultiChoice says "the fee structure for the ANN7 contract is in line with the costs of developing and running such a channel, and ANN7 is definitely not the highest-paid local news channel on the DStv platform".

"The R25 million fee is also not unusual. In this case, it was a pro rata payment in terms of an amendment agreement."

 The fee structure for the ANN7 contract is in line with the costs of developing and running such a channel, and ANN7 is definitely not the highest-paid local news channel on the DStv platform."

"Regarding our submission to Faith Muthabi: The Presidential Proclamation creating two new ministries didn't make sense to a number of stakeholders in the broadcasting sector," says MultiChoice.

"Several of these stakeholders made submissions to the minister suggesting it be corrected. MultiChoice was one of these, and many of its proposals were rejected."

MultiChoice says "it is standard practice for companies to interact with the industry regulator and government on policy matters, including making proposals on regulatory or legislative issues. There is nothing wrong with that."

MultiChoice didn't specify what it makes of Faith Muthambi sending MultiChoice's policy documents to the Guptas.

"There is absolutely no relationship between our submission on the proclamation, the channel supply agreement for ANN7, and any fees or increase in feed paid for that channel," says MultiChoice.

MultiChoice says "Imtiaz Patel was NOT involved in any business partnership with the Guptas and Duduzane Zuma in IslandsiteInvestments 255. The CIPC records reflect that he was appointed and resigned as a director on the very same day in 2009 - 8 years ago."

Earlier this week MultiChoice said it is not negotiating with ANN7 for a contract extension when the existing contract ends in June 2018.

Political parties demand parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice's "corrupt" and "unethical" ANN7 deal with Guptas

Both the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Democratic Alliance (DA) political parties on Friday called for a parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice's allegedly "corrupt" dealings with the Guptas and politicians over the ANN7 channel.

The DA's member of parliament Phumzile Van Damme told TVwithThinus that "we believe that this issue be investigated by parliament, as part of the broader State Capture inquiries undertaken by the different committees in Parliament."

"We are in particular seriously concerned about MultiChoice, and what appears to be unethical conduct in this regard relating to the Gupta family. We intend on getting to the bottom of this."

The EFF's member of parliament Mbuyiseni Ndlozi in a statement says "The EFF condemns the corrupt relations of MultiChoice and Faith Muthambi which suppressed competition within the pay-TV industry with disgust".

"The recent revelations in the #GuptaLeaks show how Faith Muthambi as minister of communications worked with the Guptas to solicit bribes in exchange for protection of MultiChoice from the competition".

"Koos Bekker's company, MultiChoice, paid millions to the Guptas, through ANN7, in exchange for Faith Muthambi to adopt the policy of unencryption in the set-top boxes for digital terrestrial television (DTT) migration."

"The Guptas, through their influence on Jacob Zuma and Faith Muthambi, managed to guarantee their stay on the DStv platform whilst being remunerated unreasonable amounts of money despite their low audience numbers," says Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

"It is clear that MultiChoice was paying them for securing a DTT policy in relation to set-top boxes that would maintain them as the sole players in the pay-TV space."

'The EFF calls on parliament to hold an inquiry into the Gupta influence over Faith Muthambi. In this inquiry, companies like MultiChoice must be held accountable publicly for their criminal activities in the sector, suppressing competition in favour of their domination."

"The EFF will also be reporting MultiChoice to the Competition Commission to investigate how they influenced the policy on set-top boxes in favour of their market domination."

Court declares South African ministerial interference into the SABC illegal, slams invalid Memorandum of Incorporation.

In a groundbreaking ruling the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday slammed and declared illegal the so-called "Memorandum of Incorporation" for the SABC that was introduced by the controversial former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, that the wayward minister used to hire and fire top executives at the SABC.

Judge Elias Matojane declared several clauses of the Amended Memorandum of Incorporation illegal that Faith Muthambi and her follow-upper and now also dumped Ayanda Dlodlo used to justify their meddling in SABC appointments and firings.

This amended version of the Memorandum of Incorporation that Faith Muthambi quietly introduced in 2014, illegally gave new powers to the minister of communications to directly meddle and interfere in the operations of the SABC board and SABC executives.

In his judgment Judge Elias Matojane noted the "systematic and repeated failures in the governance and management of the SABC" and said "the critical systemic causes of governance failures and mismanagement were found to have been caused by ministerial interference in the governance and operations of the SABC".

Judge Elias Matojane called the Memorandum of Incorporation illegal under which Faith Muthambi usurped sweeping powers to directly interfere in the executive workings of the SABC.

Judge Elias Matojane declared the Amended Memorandum of Incorporation illegal as far as the appointment, discipline and suspension of the SABC's CEO, COO and CFO goes and said the Memorandum is inconsistent with South Africa's Broadcasting Act and invalid.

Judge Elias Matojane said the Memorandum gave the minister of communications illegal powers that undermined the independence of South Africa's public broadcaster. In his judgment he reaserted that it's the SABC board - not a minister of communications - that controls the SABC.

In the judgment the court said it is the SABC board alone that, through its non-executive members, should and can appoint executive members - without any approval that is required by the minister of communications.

The judgment also said that the SABC board, without prior approval of the minister, can start disciplinary proceedings against the SABC CEO, COO and CFO.

The ruling also states that SABC board members can't be removed if it's not done strictly in accordance with the Broadcasting Act.

The case was brought to court by the Support Public Broadcasting (SOS Coalition), Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) and Media Monitoring Africa (MMA).

The SOS Coalition and MMA said they welcome the judgment limiting ministerial powers and interference at the SABC, calling it in a statement "a victory for independence and media freedom in South Africa".

"The SABC board has the exclusive prerogative to appoint, through a transparent process, the CEO, CFO and COO and any other non-executive members of the board."

"Not only is the SABC board able to exclusively appoint the non-executive members, but they are also able to discipline and/or remove any such members. This makes the current SABC board the most independent board since the birth of our democracy."

Possible criminal charges after parliament reports finds Faith Muthambi, James Aguma, Ben Ngubane, Mbulaheni Maguvhe allegedly lied in SABC inquiry.

Possible criminal charges could be coming for minister Faith Muthambi, James Aguma, Ben Ngubane, Mbulaheni Maguvhe and former SABC company secretary Theresa Geldenhuys who allegedly lied during the SABC inquiry by parlement.

A parliamentary report has found that these 5 witnesses in parliament's SABC inquiry into maladministration, corruption, and mismanagement at the troubled South African Broadcasting Corporation may have deliberately misled the South African parliament's ad hoc committee that investigated the SABC rot.

The National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete finally quietly tabled the report that she has kept hidden for months amidst calls for it to be made public who parliament found may have lied during the inquiry.

Faith Muthambi, then the minister of communications - now the public service and administration minister - could face a charge of contempt and abuse of parliamentary privilege that is punishable by a fine or a prison term not exceeding 12 months or both.

The same goes for the other 4 with the controversial Ben Ngubane and Mbulaheni Maguvhe who served as former SABC board members and James Aguma who quit as acting SABC CEO.

The report by parliament's legal services division found that Faith Muthambi's testimony regarding the appointment of the controversial and now fired executive Hlaudi Motsoeneng "does not align with the content of minutes of the SABC board meetings".

"To this end the testimony proffered by the then-minister of communications could be seen as an attempt to misled the enquiry."

The report found that the controversial Mbulaheni Maguvhe likely misled parliament when he claimed ignorance of the shocking labour dispute involving the so-called "SABC8" SABC News journalists who were fired after they voiced concern over the Hlaudi Motsoeneng's abruptly introduced SABC News censorship policy.

The parliamentary report found that the controversial Ben Ngubane misled parliament in his testimony on the massive amounts the SABC had been paying to produce The New Age Breakfast Briefings broadcast on SABC2's Morning Live.

"The testimony offered by Ben Ngubane could be seen as an attempt to mislead the inquiry and that false information was presented to the inquiry," parliament's report states.

The parliamentary report found that the controversial and now gone James Aguma might have provided the inquiry with an email which "purports to lack authenticity as being that generated by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)."

"In order to establish this fact conclusively, further investigation needs to be undertaken to ascertain whether the email was generated by the CIPC".

The parliamentary report found that Theresa Geldenhuys refused to provide parliament's ad hoc committee with requested documents, citing that they were "commercially sensitive" - only for the documents to be provided later, and being proven to not be commercially sensitive. 

Theresa Geldenhuys also failed "to inform the committee that she was no longer the company secretary which could be considered as an attempt to mislead the inquiry".

Parliament's legal services division recommended that the 5 people be investigated for misleading parliament.

In a statement, Phumzile van Damme, a member of parliament (MP) of the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party, says that "now that the speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete has finally tabled the report from parliament's legal services unit identifying those who misled or lied to the SABC ad hoc committee, she must ensure that criminal charges are laid against them."

"The recommendation in the report of the ad hoc committee on the SABC inquiry was that parliament itself lay charges against the individuals who misled the committee."

"Although the DA welcomes the tabling of this report, the reality is that it is almost 12 weeks overdue and has been sitting on the speaker's desk since 5 June."

SABC admits the South African public broadcaster failed to consult the public on its policy changes; is 'resusitating' public consultation for updates as it falls back on 2004 policy.

The beleaguered SABC on Thursday admitted that the public broadcaster failed to do proper public consultation on its revised editorial policies pushed through in late 2016, and that the SABC is embarking on a new, month and a half long nationwide consultation drive to get comments to update its policies.

After complaints, South Africa's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) found that the SABC's process to hastily update and push through its editorial policy in 2016 failed to properly and adequately involve public participation.

The policy change was done and pushed through so that the SABC could effectively enact its TV news censorship, banning the broadcast of visuals depicting the destruction of property during public protests.

Despite saying there were public consultation with the public and civil society groups as required by South Africa's Broadcasting Act, there were none, with the SABC's disgraced and fired former chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and the former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, who lied.

The SABC has been forced to return and work from its outdated 2004 editorial policy for the past 9 months since 2004 was the last time Icasa approved an SABC editorial policy.

At a press conference that was not well attended and only saw a few media pitching at its Auckland Park head office on Thursday afternoon, chairperson of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Khanyisile Kweyama "we are today launching the review project of the SABC editorial policies."

Khanyisile Kweyama said the SABC is "resusitating" the consultation process with the public "following Icasa's ruling that the SABC didn't comply with the Broadcasting Act in reviewing or amending the 2004 editorial policies".

"In 2013 the SABC started a process to review the editorial policies which resulted in the 2016 policies that were filed with Icasa," said Khanyisile Kweyama. "However the SABC failed to adhere to section 6.6 regarding public participation, so not adequate consultation."

Khanyisile Kweyama said Icasa ordered the policies invalid in terms of the Broadcasting Act. "So we reverted to the 2004 editorial policies. We are currently governed by the 2004 editorial policies".

Khanyisile Kweyama said two SABC teams will travel through South Africa, visiting two provinces at a time, to do public participation roadshows "in town halls and under the trees".

A draft policy will be created, that the SABC promises will this time be opened for public comments.

After that the SABC board will compile a final draft that will be send to Icasa for approval.

"Part of our mandate is to restore credibility and the governance at the SABC. It's through lack of governance that policies were changed without through a proper process."

Tseliso Ralitabo, acting SABC CEO, said "we just are going to be depending on the integrity that we're trying to build back for the organisation".

"The process that we have started is really that of building the integrity we think have been eroded over time, and we can only hope that whoever will be following up on us will adhere and keep to the same policies that we have put in place."

The SABC will now visit all 9 provinces between 31 July and 31 August and do public participation roadshows to get the public's opinion and input on 6 different policy aspects that urgently needs to be updated.

These include news and editorial, programming, local content for TV and radio, language, religion and universal service.

South Africans and organisations can access the various policies at sabc.co.za/policies and get a compilation of all the policies at sabc.co.za/editorialpolicy .

People can post their views and comments to SABC Private Bag X1, Aucklandpark, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2006 and email comments to editorial@sabc.co.za or phone the SABC switchboard on 011 714 9111 or 011 7149797, or fax 011 714 4508.

Parliament's acting secretary Penelope Tyawa joins speaker Baleka Mbete in trying to keep secret the report that says who lied during parliament's special SABC Inquiry.

The acting secretary of South Africa's parliament, Penelope Tyawa, has now apparently joined parliament's speaker, Baleka Mbete, with both who are conspiring to keep the South African public uninformed and the country's TV industry in the dark, refusing to release a report publicly stating which people who testified in parliament in December 2016 lied to the SABC Inquiry.

After a thorough, special ad hoc committee inquiry in December 2016 and January 2017 into maladministration, corruption and mismanagement at the beleaguered SABC and the dealings of the mafia-like former SABC board, parliament's legal services unit handed a report to speaker Baleka Mbete, naming the witnesses who gave contradictory and misleading evidence during the SABC inquiry.

So far Baleka Mbete has refused to make this report public with information that South African citizens, the TV industry and TV viewers who are forced to pay SABC TV licence fees to a public broadcaster, have a right to know in an open democracy.

Despite an application made on 20 June by the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party's deputy whip, Mike Waters who served on the ad hoc committee, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to get access to this report, Penelope Tyawa, has now also refused.

"The report was one of the key recommendations of the SABC inquiry report. Significantly, it was to be completed within 60 days with the aim of criminal charges being laid," says Mike Waters, in a statement.

On Wednesday Penelope Tyawa told Mike Waters that the report "would be made available by the end of August or soon thereafter".

Mike Waters says Penelope Tyawa "has joined the Speaker of the National Assembly in trying to keep the report into those who lied during the SABC inquiry from public scrutiny".

"This reasoning is laughable as parliament's legal services unit completed the report and submitted it to parliament on 5 June 2017 through its representative, the National Assembly speaker.

"It is now precisely the representative of parliament, Baleka Mbete, who is protecting the persons implicated in the report by refusing to table it, which she is required to do 'without delay' ".

In a statement from South Africa's parliament on late Thursday, parliament said that "the speaker is in no position to disclose the names of the affected individuals publicly before a committee process has begun".

"Any insinuation that the speaker seeks to quash a parliamentary probe into these allegations is erroneous and without basis."

People who likely lied during the SABC Inquiry include:

the failed former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, recently shunted to another ministry;
the disgraced former SABC chairperson Ellen Tshabalala who also lied about tertiary qualifications she doesn't have;
the confused and stubborn former SABC chairperson Mbulaheni Maguvhe who was staunch Hlaudi Motsoeneng supporter;
and the patriarchal former SABC chairperson Ben Ngubane who of course doesn't fly economy.

M-NET AT 30: M-Net celebrates 30 years as pay-TV broadcaster with special stars and Trevor Noah.

On Thursday night a phalanx of stars – from TV talent and media, to TV executives, politicians and musicians – from across the entire Africa showed up at pay-TV broadcaster M-Net's dazzling 30th birthday celebration.

Toasting with Moët & Chandon champagne as massive surround sound video walls replayed iconic M-Net nostalgia ranging from beloved yesteryear M-Net and SuperSport theme songs to modern day TV magic, guests inside the massive marquee tent at MultiChoice City in Randburg "ooh"-ed and "aah"-ed at three decades of unforgettable television entertainment.

Afropop star Claire Johnston from Mango Groove sang "Special Star" as guests tucked away at everything from smoked salmon trout and nordic shrimp to beef mignon with potatoes, followed by a dessert and cheese emporium.

Following a magical exhibition of M-Net highlights over the past 30 years in the MultiChoice City atrium, guests watched in delight as M-Net, that dug deep into its video vault archive, took attendees on a "remember that?" visual journey of sound and colour through its iconic programming of the past three decades.

Other performers included The Voice SA winner Richard Stirton, former Idols winner, Khaya Mthethwa, and The Voice SA coach Kahn Morbee of The Parlotones.

African songbird Lira, moved the audience with several songs including an emotional In Memorian tribute to all the people who've worked to bring the M-Net magic over the past 30 years and who had passed away as their names flashed across the giant screens.

'The magic is in the stories we tell'

The South African comedian Trevor Noah, now host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, appeared in a recorded stand-up act throughout the night as a hologram projection and said M-Net didn't stop with just one TV channel when it launched in October 1986 "but thought about the whole African continent".

"M-Net is an African show, this is an African channel and they took it out there. And you've got different magic now – not just Mzansi Magic. You've got Maisha Magic Bongo, Maisha Magic and Africa Magic!"

Trevor Noah said while Americans have and know "ketchup" as tomato sauce, South Africans and Africans know and love DStv Catch Up – MultiChoice’s TV on demand video service.

"We’re going to be watching on our phones, we're going to be watching on our laptops. We don't even know what TV of the future will be. For all we know it's going to be on the inside of our eyes."

"But the most most important thing , and you know this if you're an African," said Trevor Noah, "is that the story will always remain the most important thing – and I'm glad that M-Net invest in the community and are producing the content that people really want to see. TV is merely a platform but the magic is in the stories that we tell."

Ferdinand Rabie, the first winner of Big Brother South Africa, told TVwithThinus that "I just want to thank M-Net who ensured that when I was a high school laaitie that M-Net always ensured that there was something to watch on a Sunday evening when you’re in school res after a wonderful weekend. And thanks for throwing me out there and giving exposure with Big Brother!"

Bob van Dijk, Naspers CEO said M-Net’s "profound success" wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the media and stakeholders without whom “M-Net could have never been what it is today”.

Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO said "M-Net is a proudly African company committed to telling the best international and African stories."

"But the company's greatest achievement is the remarkable and diverse group of people who bring this enduring brand to life in so many ways each day. To make real magic you have to believe in it, so thank you to everyone for choosing to believe."

'M-Net has helped to give Africa a different voice'

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, M-Net's regional director for West Africa, told TVwithThinus "congratulations M-Net, they've achieved a lot in three decades, investing in talent and telling African stories in a unique way".

"Local language is a big thing. My part of M-Net is looking after Africa. A lot in investment has gone into talent and building talent. We've got big shows like Tinsel going into its 10th season. It's a huge investment. M-Net has helped to give Africa a different voice; to help people see Africa in a different light."

"Africa isn't doom and gloom. There's tremendous talent in Africa and M-Net Africa helps to showcase the talent in front of and behind the screen and I’m personally so proud to work for M-Net and to manage the Africa Magic brand."

Lalla Hirayama, the face of M-Net Movies and presenter of Lalla Land said "Happy, happy birthday M-Net! You’re such an incredible force in African television the past three decades. To be part of a brand that’s delivered so much magic to the homes of South Africans is such an honour. God bless you and may we see another 60, 90 years of magic!”

Gideon Khobane, SuperSport CEO told TVwithThinus on Thursday night that “M-Net changed all our lives. When I was young we watched Open Time. Then we got a decoder. Then started working and got DStv. It’s been the pinnacle of entertainment”.

“I’ve worked at SABC and when I was there I said to myself one day I want to work at M-Net. And then I’ve been fortunate enough to work at M-Net. Now I’m at SuperSport and SuperSport was M-Net’s baby. So congratulation and all the best for another 30 years”.

The minister of communication Faith Muthambi said M-Net introduced reality TV with shows like Big Brother, Idols, Survivor SA. “The original channels and shows it created reflects the diversity of languages and tastes of viewers. M-Net has made a huge investment in talent and industry to create this magic.”

Nolo Letele, MultiChoice South Africa chairperson said “[in] 30 years of history M-Net hasn’t rested on their laurels. They continue to find new formats in broadcasting. They broadcast in local languages. And they invest substantially in local productions. May the magic never stop.”

SA'S DIGITAL TV SHOCKER: The 'secret' R800 South Africa's TV viewers don't know they'll have to pay just to keep watching their free television.

Tens of millions of South African TV households literally have no idea that they're going to be forced to pay around R800 and more just to keep watching the free TV they've been watching as the country's long-delayed and derailed switch from analogue to digital television drags on.

More than a year after South Africa's department of communications missed the international deadline of June 2015 to complete the switch to digital terrestrial television (DTT) - a process known as digital migration that's already fraught with several allegations of corruption that's being investigated - the South African government finally revealed in parliament on Thursday the shocking cost to TV households of the very expensive exercise.

South Africa's TV households without satellite television - people who watch the SABC, e.tv and community TV stations without DStv, M-Net, StarSat or OpenView HD - are going to be forced to fork out hundreds of rands to buy a decoder known as a set-top box (STB) and in many instances also a new antenna.

Without it, viewers will eventually be cut off and no longer be able to receive free-to-air channels like SABC1 for instance.

While the government is set to give free STBs away to only the poorest of the poor households - around 5,2 million TV households - it leaves millions of South African TV households who are going to discover that they have to pay out of their own pocket hundreds of rand just to keep watching their Generations, Muvhango and Rhythm City on the SABC and e.tv when the existing analogue TV signals are eventually switched off.

In its presentation to parliament, the department of communications revealed that about 650 000 STBs without any encryption system have been manufactured in South Africa and have been delivered to the South African Post Office. The Post Office will have to help with distribution.

These STBs that were ordered and manufactured in bulk cost the government (including VAT) R687,94 (CZ Electronics), R689,26 (BUA Africa) and R689,26 (Leratidima) each.

Ellies satellite dishes cost R441,71 and antennas from Temic Manufacturing and QEC cost R135,09 and R177,70 each.

The costing gives a shocking indication of what South Africans who don't qualify for a DTT subsidy will have to pay commercially when they are forced to buy a STB and an antenna for their TV sets.

While most new flatscreen TV sets now have DTT tuners already built-in, millions of South African TV households who don't qualify as poor enough but already have a TV set, simply don't have the expendable income to buy a new flatscreen costing thousands or even the R800 to buy a STB and antenna.

Further complicating the already convoluted and delayed process is ongoing legal action further hampering the DTT roll-out process.

These already manufactured STBs - around 650 000 - were made without a built-in encryption system known as (CA) conditional access.

e.tv took the government to court over the lack of a CA system in STBs and in May this year won its digital TV box encryption case in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).

The minister of communications Faith Muthambi decided to appeal the decision further and is taking it to the Constitutional Court in a case that is set to be heard on 17 February 2017.

If Faith Muthambi's appeal here fails as well, the already manufactured STBs that's cost the government R305 million so far - some of which have already been handed out to poor households - will be the wrong ones that doesn't have the encryption features broadcasters like e.tv and others might use in future to protect their content and broadcast high definition (HD) TV channels.


'Minor challenges'
Faith Muthambi told parliament on Thursday that "the DTT project is being rolled out despite minor challenges".

"Challenges relate to lack of funding for a public awareness campaign, dual illumination [and] the establishment of a contact centre. On The South African Post Office, there is also risk issues".

Besides average South Africans being clueless that they're going to have to pay to keep watching free television, there's also controversy about the awarding of the STB tenders with an forensic investigation that was launched, as well as an investigation into a company that got a tender to do DTT public awareness campaigns.

As the department of communications has said for over a decade now with few actual DTT "deliverables" as South Africa kept falling behind with the switch to digital TV, Faith Muthambi again on Thursday told parliament that "the department is committed to work with all key role players to ensure that the broadcasting digital migration process is successfully implemented".

SABC staff must now request approval for all international trips from the minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, and say how it will benefit the government.

Shocked SABC staff were informed by email today (Tuesday) that effective immediately, they have to apply for approval for all international trips from the minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, and will have to explain how it will benefit the government and report back within 7 days after any international trip.

In the notice also sent to TVwithThinus, SABC staff were told that they must now "submit formal requests for all international trips to the minister for approval effective immediately".

SABC staffers who want to travel internationally must motivate their trip to the minister of communications and must explain why it will be good for South Africa and the South African government.

SABC staff are told in no uncertain terms that "no approval or bookings can be confirmed nor issued" if it hasn't been approved by the minister.

They will also have to report back, if they've traveled abroad, within 7 days.

"The SABC is already not in a position to react quickly to big events because of too many 'gatekeepers' and the computer system through which all financial transactions and also money for shoots and productions needs to be pushed and approved. And now this," said a source.

Also on Tuesday, parliament's portfolio committee of communications, tasked with oversight of the beleaguered South African public broadcaster, decided that a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into the ongoing litany of SABC crises was necessary and urgent.

Humphrey Maxegwana, chairperson of the committee and other members, expressed support for such an inquiry and said that a request would be dispatched to parliament's chair of chairs, Cedric Frolick.