Each of South Africa’s former presidents treated the state broadcaster very differently. From left Jacob Zuma, Nelson Mandela, and Thabo Mbeki (2008).
Epa/Kim Ludbrook
The South African Broadcasting Corporation, like South Africa itself, is a symbol of contradictions. While there are bad people who work for it, there are also many good ones.
Demonstrators march against corruption in South Africa.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
There were high hopes that the SABC would become a true public broadcaster after the end of apartheid when it was used ruthlessly as a propaganda machine. But those hopes have since been dashed.
A protest in Cape Town against the SABC’s decision not to broadcast violent protests.
Mike Hutchings/Reuters
Jared Borkum, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Many broadcasters around the world enforce local content quotas to ensure their television industries’ survival. But the success of these measures varies widely.