SABC's local quota inspires other African countries

According to the SABC, the implementation of the 90% local music quota on radio and the introduction of local content on TV has generated an interest from other public service broadcasters on the African continent.

During an interview with Morning Live, SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago explained that the 90% local content has inspired the whole continent.

Kganyago added that the public broadcaster is currently engaging with some key stakeholders, who are said to be keen to benchmark from them on how best to implement the increased local content.

• Put down the champers, here's the problem with the SABC 90% rule...There's been a lot of hoopla around the SABC's announcement last month that radio stations across its platforms would be enforcing a 90% music quota. 

"There's a lot of interest from all over Africa after people heard of the local content (introduced by the SABC). Not only the music interest, but also the issues around television content," Kganyago said.

"They have shown interest and we are talking to a lot of them, who are interested in understanding how we came to this and how we are implementing it," he added, before pointing out the enforcement of this mandate is now "bearing fruit."

• 'Hlaudi deserves a medal': Full six minute SABC praise song releasedAs reported last week by TMG Entertainment, a song praising the SABC's decision to implement a 90% local music quota across its radio stations, has been released. 

In a statement issued by the public broadcaster, the SABC Board chairperson Prof Mbulaheni Maguvhe said, "We are delighted that our positive efforts are recognized beyond the South African boarders and we strongly believe that if we can work together as African public service broadcasters, we can play a pivotal role in telling the positive African story to the rest of the world."

Maguvhe added that the broadcaster is happy about the positive results the campaign is yielding.

"When we started this campaign, we had clear objectives to change the lives of South African artists and obviously to make an impact in Africa and the rest of the world. We are happier that the campaign that is spearheaded by our COO, has started yielding positive results in its early stages."

The initiative to prioritise culture and heritage in the implementation of local content was also hailed by the vhaVenda King and the Zulu King in their recent interaction with COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

The Zulu King honoured Motsoeneng for his efforts in the implementation of local content while the Venda King applauded him for the implementation of the 90 % music airplay and the prioritisation of culture and heritage.