Zikakala told the Mail & Guardian newspaper that he is negotiating with business people to provide financial backing to try to ensure the survival of the SABC News International and has sent a proposal to the Chairperson of the Board Irene Chanley.
 
“As South Africans and African editors we cannot allow the media landscape to continue being dominated by the BBC and CNN” said Zikalala. He also added that he will submit a comprehensive financial plan on how the channel could be run as a commercial channel independent of SABC funding and adhering to SABC editorial values.
 
He has also recruited media academic Guy Berger and the Head of Media 24’s journalism academy Mathatha Tsedu to give their input on how to shape the channel. Buger said he was willing to give advice because SABC News International focuses on matters of interest to South Africans and Africans. Tsedu also confirmed he was willing to support an initiative to save the channel. “ I agree it is a channel that needs to be saved,” he said.

Reagan Malumo
Programme Officer: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht St
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
Phone: +264 61 232 975
Fax: +264 61 248 016
Mobile: +264 81 311 2626
E mail: reagan@misa.org

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