South Africa’s public broadcaster says its R1.9 billion in debt.
According to SABC’s chair, Bongumusa Makhathini, the broadcaster is finding it increasingly difficult to meet both staff salaries and transmission costs.
Makhathini told local media that it owes transmission company SanTech R337 million, SuperSport R223 million and the City of Johanesburg R10 million. He described the current situation as “unsustainable”.
In March, the South African government promised to give SABC interim relief, but refused to pay the full R6.8 billion guarantee the broadcaster had proposed.
The South African Sunday Times suggested the government would pay R3.2 billion, which would enable SABC to raise money from lenders.
SABC is one of a number of government businesses that have been left in financial uncertainty following aledged mismanagement under the government of former president Jacob Zuma.
