AKA defends SABC 90% quota: transformation is painful but necessary

Rapper AKA has come out strongly to defend the SABC's controversial 90% local music quota, saying that transformation at the broadcaster is painful but necessary.

The quota has come under scrutiny after financial results revealed that the SABC had experienced a large loss in revenue, with the implementation of the local quota believed to be a massive part of the lack of revenue.

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Responding to a News24 report that the SABC needed at least R3 billion to reverse former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s local content decisions, AKA said that the hit in revenue may have been necessary for the transformation of local music.

As opposed to? Flourishing advertising and overseas content dominating?Much like economic transformation, this will be painful but necessary https://t.co/qidLwWos3K

— AKA (@akaworldwide) April 16, 2017

Speaking to TshisaLIVE last week, SABC interim board member Krish Naidoo confirmed that the board would soon meet to discuss the financial results but had yet to engage on the quota.

• SABC to scrap Hlaudi's 90% rule?The newly appointed SABC interim board has "yet to engage" on the controversial 90% rule implemented by former COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng. That's the official line from the public broadcaster, despite reports that the interim board members had already decided to change the direction of 90% local content directive. 

"I will push for a reduction in the quota if it is brought up. We are not diverting from local content. We are just pushing for a more structured approach," Krish added.

TshisaLIVE has it on good authority that both 5FM and Metro FM management brought up the 90% local rule as being a major challenge and, as a result of the rule, has seen a massive drop in advertising and listenership.