Media Statement
10 February 2025
SOS COALITION, MEDIA MONITORING AFRICA, THE SOUTH AFRICAN EDITORS’ FORUM
AND THE CAMPAIGN FOR FREE EXPRESSION: CALLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
MINISTER’S WITHDRAWAL OF THE SABC BILL
The SOS Coalition (SOS), Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), the South African National Editors’
Forum (SANEF) and the Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) have jointly written letters to the
Speaker of the National Assembly, the President as Head of Cabinet, and the Parliamentary
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies (PPCCDT). These letters
emphasise the critical importance of upholding the separation of powers doctrine and
respecting due process.
After months of advocacy for the withdrawal of the SABC Bill, SOS, MMA, SANEF and CFE
welcomed the decision by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly
Malatsi, to withdraw the Bill. However, they are now deeply disappointed by the prolonged
delay on the part of the Speaker of Parliament in gazetting the withdrawal of the Bill and
ongoing unlawful, unconstitutional interference by the Cabinet in the withdrawal of the Bill.
According to the Rules of the National Assembly, the Minister has the authority to withdraw
a bill before its second reading (Rule 277 read with Rule 334). Minister Malatsi followed due
process by formally notifying the Speaker of the National Assembly in writing about his
withdrawal of the Bill.
These letters serve as a reminder that:
◦ The Speaker must gazette the withdrawal of the SABC Bill and has no authority to
overrule the Minister’s decision. Failure to do so constitutes failure to fulfil her constitutional duties and disregards the public interest.
◦ The PPCCDT must respect the separation of powers and remove the SABC Bill from its agenda as it has been lawfully withdrawn by the responsible Minister.
◦ The Cabinet has no authority to overrule the Minister’s decision in withdrawing the
Bill and must respect the Rules of the National Assembly and the authority of the Minister to do so.
We urge the Speaker, the Committee and the Cabinet to respect the separation of powers
doctrine and proceed with the formal gazetting of the SABC Bill’s withdrawal in line with the Constitution and the Rules of the National Assembly as any continued deliberation of the SABC Bill by the Committee and Parliament in general would be unlawful.
For more information contact:
Uyanda Siyotula (SOS National Coordinator)
060 691 2462
William Bird (MMA Director)
082 887 1370
Reggy Moalusi (SANEF Executive Director)
071 682 3695
Anton Harber (CFE Diretor)
083 303 9497
The following organisations have endorsed this letter and the campaign calling for
the withdrawal of the SABC Bill:
