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DA and AfriForum demand answers after Afrikaans news bulletin vanishes from SABC2
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and civil rights group AfriForum have taken the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to task over the unexplained disappearance of the Afrikaans news bulletin on SABC2.
DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp raised concerns about the broadcaster’s silence, questioning whether the removal was temporary or a permanent move.
“The Afrikaans news bulletin vanished over the weekend without any explanation from the SABC. This lack of communication is deeply concerning,” said Aucamp.
The SABC cannot suddenly stop airing the Afrikaans news bulletin without notice or justification.
The DA demands urgent answers regarding this decision and calls on SABC management to restore the Afrikaans news bulletin immediately.https://t.co/dDS6vbpMSA
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) April 7, 2025
He called for urgent clarity and transparency from the public broadcaster.
“We will write to the SABC requesting immediate answers. We demand to know if this was a once-off, a technical error, or a permanent removal. The Afrikaans-speaking community deserves to know,” Aucamp stated.
He added that the bulletin is an essential service for more than 300,000 viewers who pay TV licence fees and rely on the bulletin for news in their preferred language.
AfriForum has also taken formal steps by sending a letter to the SABC leadership. Alana Bailey, the organisation’s head of Cultural Affairs, criticised the decision, highlighting that Afrikaans remains a major language community and a contributor to the SABC’s advertising revenue.
Also Read: Steenhuisen: DA Won’t Be Silenced in Fight for a Fair Government of Unity
“Removing the Afrikaans bulletin risks alienating a loyal and financially valuable segment of the audience,” said Bailey. She added that the SABC has a constitutional duty to cater to all official languages, and failing to do so undermines public trust.
Both organisations have vowed to continue pressing the SABC until a clear response is provided and the Afrikaans news segment is reinstated.
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Sourced:African Insider
