RELIGIOUS
BROADCASTING
INTRODUCTION
South Africa is a multicultural and multiple faith society that is united by a common humanity and
moral order. Within its diversity there are human values that call for the promotion of social
harmony, national healing, reconciliation, social reconstruction and nation building.
Most South Africans acknowledge the Divine, which is expressed through a variety of religious
beliefs and practices, and religious institutions. As the public broadcaster, the SABC has an
obligation to provide religious programmes and to broadcast religious material in a manner that
is unbiased and representative of South Africa's religious plurality. In so doing, the SABC seeks to
promote mutual respect for religious beliefs among the country's different religious groups.
The SABC's religious programming should therefore reflect South Africa's major religions, while
allowing expression for those religions that do not have an extensive following. For the
purposes of this policy, major religions are understood to include Christianity, African Religion,
Islam, Hinduism and Judaism.
In its religious programming, the SABC seeks to correct gender, racial, religious and resource
allocation imbalances associated with religious broadcasting in the past. Further, it seeks to ensure
that the distinctive identities of the religious traditions are broadcast in a way that facilitates the
religious and moral objectives of justice, social harmony and the common good. Religious
programming should play a meaningful part in the moral regeneration of South Africa.
Religious broadcasting should be undertaken in accordance with values that include:
Sensitivity to the diverse nature of South African society and the need for justice, healing and
reconciliation
Compassion and concern for human dignity and for all life, including the earth
A common South Africanness
Integrity, transparency and trust in all relationships
Commitment to the independence and autonomy of the SABC, within the parameters of its
accountability to the South African public
A spirit of co-operation between the SABC and the religious community.

NATURE AND CONTENT OF RELIGIOUS PROGRAMMES
The following principles underpin the SABC's approach to religious programming:
In achieving its religious programming mandate, the SABC provides both faith specific and
multifaith programmes. Faith specific programmes should give the major religious groups the
scope to celebrate their life of faith and understanding of the Divine fully and
without censure. Multifaith programmes are in addition to faith specific programmes and
should promote religious dialogue, respect and understanding among all the religious
groupings in South Africa. The vehicles for delivery of religious programmes are the radio
stations and TV channels in the SABC's public broadcasting portfolio
Whereas religious broadcasts have necessarily to comply with the SABC's Policy on
Programming, the SABC takes particular care to ensure that in such programmes there is
sensitivity to the beliefs of others, and that no religion is either attacked or undermined in
such programmes
Religious broadcasting may not be used to solicit funds, nor to support any programme of a
political or ideological nature. Permission for fundraising, whether for emergency relief
and/or social welfare, or for religious causes, should be obtained from the SABC before the
broadcast

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 The theological content of meditational and worship programmes is at the discretion of the
presenter, as a member of a particular religious organisation, but should comply with the
Policy on Religious Broadcasting and other relevant SABC policies
The format of religious programmes and the choice of presenters should meet the technical,
creative and professional criteria required by the SABC
The SABC provides religious programmes in a variety of formats including documentaries,
magazines and actuality programmes. The aim of these is to encourage religious comment
on matters of national concern, and to introduce people to faiths practised in South Africa
and, where appropriate, elsewhere
The SABC sources religious programmes through its standard content procurement
procedures including commissioning, licensing and /or content that may be acquired at no
cost to the Corporation or the supplier
Religious broadcasting should strive to be contextual and relevant, and to reflect our African
reality. Towards further correction of the neglect of African culture in the public media,
special attention is given to African Religion and traditional cultures
Religious programmes should take account of regional factors, target audiences, language
and cultural preferences, and the devotional needs of specific groups.

ALLOCATION OF TIME
The SABC has relatively little air time available and, in addition to religious programming, has to
provide a wide range of public interest programmes in its schedules. Despite these constraints, the
SABC undertakes to offering meaningful and sufficient religious programming on its radio and
television services.
In allocating air time to religious groups, the SABC is committed to the principle of fairness and
applies this principle in determining the time allocated to each group. These allocations are made
on a three-yearly basis, after consultation with the Religious Broadcasting Panel (RPB), taking the
following into account:
Data on the percentage of the population in each religious group, as per the latest available
census information
The need for each of the major religions to enjoy meaningful and sufficient programming of
a faith specific nature
The need for all the religions to be reflected in religious programmes
The need for sufficient programming of a multifaith nature
The need to redress past imbalances in religious broadcasting.

SCHEDULING
Religious programmes should not be confined to Sundays, or the fringes of the programme
schedules, but be placed at times when audiences are available and be broadcast on days that are
appropriate to individual religions.

PAID BROADCASTING
In addition to its normal provision of religious programmes, the SABC may make air time
available for purchasing by religious groups for broadcasting of religious material. The sale of such
air time would be negotiated on a commercial basis and be guided by the following:
The sale of air time to religious groups may in no way detract from the SABC's mandate to
provide religious programming.

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The sale of air time to particular religious groups should be consistent with the time
allocated to those groups, as determined every three years. Within this, the SABC shall also
ensure that there is a fair representation of various denominations in religious groups.

 RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING

Religious material broadcast in slots that have been sold to religious groups is always to be
consistent with the SABC's Policy on Religious Broadcasting and all the other relevant
policies. The SABC reserves the right to accept or reject an offer to purchase air time based
on the material proposed
In considering offers to purchase air time, the SABC gives preference to good quality local
material
Profits from the sale of air time to religious groups should be directed to the funding of
religious programmes
Scheduling of such air time is the prerogative of the SABC
Sponsorship, fundraising, advertising and commercial branding in air time sold to religious
groups is governed by the rules of SABC Airtime Sales
Operational Guidelines to guide transactions on air time sales are available on request.

RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING PANEL (RBP)
The SABC's approach to religious programming is informed by advice of the RBP, a body
appointed by the SABC Board and representative of South Africa's religious community.
The RBP is nominated by the religious community and appointed by the Board. The appointments
are made on the basis of public interviews conducted by a selection committee appointed by the
Board and in accordance with the SABC's Corrective Action Policy. In addition to the Chairperson,
who sits on the Board, the RBP consists of at least fifteen people drawn from various religious
groups and includes professional advisers. There are at least two members from each of the five
major religions in South Africa. Senior management from both radio and television represent
SABC management at RBP meetings.
The RBP's term of office is two years and may be extended only once. Members who are unable
to complete their term of office are replaced immediately as per the appointment criteria outlined
above.
The relationship between the RBP, the Board, management and the religious community should
be one of co-operation, while recognising that the SABC Board is ultimately responsible for
matters of policy.
The mandate of the RBP is to promote co-operation between the SABC and the religious groups
in the country. Further, the RBP advises the SABC specifically on:
Review of SABC Religious Broadcasting Policy, including the composition of the RBP and how
it is appointed
Liaison with religious communities
Allocation of time for the religious groups in both faith specific and multifaith programmes.
Members of the RBP are entitled to an honorarium as approved by the Board and are reimbursed
for subsistence, travelling and accommodation expenses.

MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION
The Board requires management to submit an annual religious broadcasting action plan that
identifies future goals arising from this policy. A summary of achievements from the previous year
is to be attached in order to facilitate a review of the achievements, opportunities and challenges.

REVIEW
This policy is reviewed by the SABC Board every five years.

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