President Cyril Ramaphosa is calling on all government departments that owe the South African Broadcasting Corporation SABC TV license fees to immediately settle them.
The Presidency says National Treasury should also follow up to ensure that departments pay the fees.
Communications Minister Solly Malatsi recently revealed that some national and provincial governments as well as municipalities collectively owe the SABC more than R30 million in TV license fees.
"The SABC is an important institution of our democracy. It needs all the funding that is required in order for it to fulfill its primary constitutional duty. Therefore, the President would certainly encourage and make a call to all the departments that owe the SABC license fees, to immediately settle those fees with the SABC. We want to have an SABC that remains viable, that continues to serve the public and therefore it is important that government enables the SABC to fulfill its duties. This is a matter that the President would expect the National Treasury to also follow up with the SABC and the departments that owe the SABC money. We cannot have a situation where the SABC is owed by government institutions. It is important that government fulfills its obligations in this regard," says Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
