South African broadcaster Etv has succeeded in its bid to have the country’s analogue switch off postponed again.
Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ordered that the deadline set for 31 March should be suspended.
Etv and non-government organisations Media Monitoring Africa and SOS Support Public Broadcasting had asked for the date to be postponed arguing that the decision had been made without rational consultation. They warned that millions of South Africans would no longer have access to broadcast television.
Counsel for Communications minister Solly Malatsi argued there had been sufficient consultation on the project and that Etv’s court bid was about protecting its own commercial interest rather than concern for the poor.
The court judgement states: “The operation of the final analogue switch-off date of 31 March 2025, as announced by the minister of communications and digital technologies on 5 December 2024, is suspended.
“The minister of communications and digital technologies is interdicted from taking any steps to implement the switch-off of analogue signals and ending dual-illumination.
“Sentech SOC Limited is interdicted from taking any steps to implement the switch-off of analogue signals and ending dual-illumination.”
Responding on social media, Malatsi said he was studying the judgement before deciding how best to proceed.
It’s the latest setback for the tortuous switch over programme. Having initially missed the International Telecommunication Union’s June 2015 deadline, the process became mired in a series of issues ranging from leadership changes within the ministry, through to pressure from broadcasters and changes in technical standards.
Malatsi imposed the 31 March deadline last December after concern from a parliamentary committee that the previous December cutoff was unworkable.
