By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the SABC Bill was withdrawn without cabinet approval and will be discussed in the next meeting.
Ntshavheni briefed members of the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 November 2024.
The minister clarified that Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi did not have the authority to withdraw the SABC Bill without prior consent from Cabinet.
“The SABC Bill is not a private member’s bill, it’s not Malatsi’s bill.
“It’s bill of Cabinet and the executive so in terms of the law he cannot withdraw it without coming to Cabinet to agree for its withdrawal.
“The bill was submitted to Parliament after it was approved by Cabinet,” Ntshavheni said.
She indicated that the withdrawal issue will be addressed at the next Cabinet meeting.
“There’s no minister, even myself, I can’t withdraw any bill which has been approved by Cabinet unless it’s a private member’s bill.
The SABC Bill was tabled in Parliament by Mondli Gungubele, who is now Malatsi’s deputy, in October 2023 to replace the outdated Broadcasting Act of 1999.
The draft legislation proposed a new funding model for the SABC, to be developed within three years of enactment.
It also proposed the replacement of the current TV licence fee with a household levy.
The bill, however, faced significant opposition from civil society organisations, including Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef), and AfriForum, as well as from major broadcasters like MultiChoice and eTV.
Illegal Miners – “We are going to smoke them out”
Ntshavheni has confirmed that the government will not assist the scores of illegal miners who remained underground in Stilfontein, North West.
The government launched a multi-disciplinary operation in response to escalating criminal activity, including mass shootings believed to be linked to turf wars over illicit mining operations.
As part of the operation, the South African Police Service and the National Defence Force have blocked access routes for water and essentials to illegal miners.
So far, more than 1,000 miners, many believed to be from neighbouring Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, have resurfaced due to hunger and dehydration.
However, authorities estimate that around 4,500 miners remain underground, many in poor health and suffering from severe weakness and illness.
In response to growing concerns over the operation, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has announced a fact-finding mission scheduled for Thursday.
This follows complaints about the constitutionality of the operation.
Ntshavheni strongly defended the operation, reiterating the government’s stance of not intervening to rescue those who chose to remain underground.
“South Africans, do you want us to send help to criminals?” she asked.
“We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. We are not sending help to criminals; criminals are to be persecuted, not helped.”
“We didn’t send them there, and they didn’t go down there for the benefit of South Africa, so we can’t help them.
“Those who want to help them must go and send the food down there. They will come out, and we will arrest them,” said Ntshavheni.
Food Poisoning
Following the tragic deaths of children and several hospitalisations in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State, President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on the interventions government is undertaking to deal with food poisoning.
The Department of Health has tasked the National Institute of Communicable Diseases to trace and examine the source of the poisoning of foodstuffs and make recommendations.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs supported by the Department of Small Business Development and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Disaster Management have gazetted the Standard Draft By-laws for Township Economies aimed at mobilising municipalities around a common agenda and collective responses towards inclusive local economies and curbing illegal business operations in townships.
Local Government Elections
Meanwhile, Cabinet announced that it had approved the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) that would oversee preparations for the 2026/27 Local Government Elections.
The next municipal elections will be held between November 2, 2026 and February 1, 2027.
The IMC will be convened by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and consists of several government departments that are key to ensuring the delivery of successful elections,” it said.
“It added that the IMC would work with the Independent Electoral Commission and other relevant bodies towards ensuring that the process leading to the local government was smooth and peaceful.
Cabinet also considered and approved the formula for the determination of the number of councillors in terms of Section 20 (1) (a) of the Municipal Structures Act.
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Cabinet has welcomed the filing of the Memorial to the International Court of Justice, which it said showed how the government of Israel violated the Genocide Convention through deliberate violations and murder of Palestinians living in Gaza.
“The memorial document of more 1 300 pages – supported by exhibits and annexures – contains evidence of Israel’s genocidal acts, and its failure to prevent incitement to genocide and punish those inciting and committing acts of genocide,” Cabinet pointed out.
So far, more than 43 000 lives have been lost in the onslaught on Palestine, following attacks on Israel by Hamas.