The SABC will repay its government guaranteed loan of R1 billion in full within the next few months, Communication Minister Dina Pule said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Introducing her budget vote debate in the National Assembly, Pule said the state broadcaster was accelerating its pay back plan.<\/p>\n
“The SABC plans to pay the outstanding balance of R220 million within four months,” she said.<\/p>\n
The R1bn Nedbank loan was granted in 2009 after the broadcaster reported cash flow problems.<\/p>\n
Pule said the SABC would be able to meet its obligations in terms of digital terrestrial television (DTT) — migrating from analogue to digital broadcasting.<\/p>\n
“The SABC can immediately migrate these three existing channels to the DTT platform and launch new channels in due course,” she said.<\/p>\n
However, governance arrangements at the broadcaster were still bothering the minister.<\/p>\n
“I will be consulting with the portfolio committee on communications to explore an urgent review and amendment to the Broadcasting Act,” she said.<\/p>\n
Dina Pule: I\u2019m being blackmailed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n