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The Campaign for Free Expression

Released on: July 11, 2025

Civil society organisations call for the gazetting of the SABC Bill withdrawal

The SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition (SOS), Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), and the Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) reiterate their deep concern over the ongoing delay in formally gazetting the withdrawal of the South African Broadcasting Corporations (SABC) Bill, despite the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, having officially withdrawn the Bill in November 2024 in accordance with Rule 334 of the National Assembly (NA) Rules.
About seven months later, the Speaker of the NA has not gazetted the withdrawal as required by Rule 277(3) of the NA Rules. This delay represents a serious breach of the rule of law and separation of powers. The Speaker’s inaction continues to leave the SABC in legislative uncertainty, while its financial instability persists.

Download full release below

For more information contact:
Uyanda Siyotula, SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition
natcoord@soscoalition.org.za
060 691 2462

William Bird, Media Monitoring Africa
williamb@mma.org.za
072 887 1370

Reggy Moalusi, South African National Editors’ Forum
reggym@sanef.org.za
071 682 3695

Nicole Fritz, The Campaign for Free Expression
nicole@freeexpression.org.za
082 452 3909

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