SABC secures an unqualified audit opinion for second consecutive year, showcases strong 2024/25 performance
Johannesburg – Friday, 03 October 2025 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce that the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) has, for a second consecutive year, issued an unqualified audit opinion on the Corporation’s financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
This announcement follows the tabling of the SABC’s Annual Report to parliament and marks an important milestone in strengthening governance, accountability, and transparency at the public broadcaster. The outcome reflects SABC’s continued efforts to embed robust governance practices and demonstrates progress in stabilising the organisation.
In line with legislative processes, the audited annual report is now a public document and has been published on the SABC website.
Key Achievements in 2024/25
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE:
- The SABC recorded a net loss of R253.3m compared to R197.8m in FY2024, as modest total revenue growth of 1.3% was outpaced by a 3% rise in expenditure. This resulted in a 4.9% decline in net margin.
- TV licence revenues grew by 10% year-on-year, supported by improved collection efforts.
- The Public Commercial Services operation recorded a 9.63% revenue growth, outperforming the market and generating a profit before interest and tax of R145m. However, the substantial cost of delivering the public mandate continues to weigh heavily on the organisation in the absence of an appropriate funding model.
- The unfunded public interest mandate approximates R2.1bn per annum. Securing government funding for this remains a critical priority and is a central feature of the SABC Bill currently under review.
PUBLIC SERVICE MANDATE DELIVERY:
Election Coverage Excellence: The SABC provided the most comprehensive multiplatform coverage of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, ensuring trusted, impartial, and multilingual content across television, radio, digital, and streaming platforms.
Radio and Sport: The radio portfolio achieved 100% compliance with genre and local music quotas. SABC Sport prioritised sports of national interest, including FIFA World Cup qualifiers, AFCON qualifiers, CAF Champions League, ICC T20 World Cup, and the Currie Cup.
Digital Growth and Innovation: SABC Digital platforms achieved record-breaking engagement, with 1.48 billion lifetime YouTube views and a 290% year-on-year increase in podcast downloads. The SABC+ platform surpassed 850,000 registered users by 31 March 2025 and now exceeds 1.5 million users, driven by the addition of new streaming channels and strong uptake during major sporting events.
Awards and Recognition: The SABC received numerous accolades across journalism, radio, and television, including recognition at the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards, Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards, SAFTAs, and Telkom Radio Awards.
Cultural and Heritage Broadcasting: The Corporation proudly showcased South Africa’s cultural richness through flagship events such as the Metro FM Music Awards, Phalaphala Royal Heritage Festival, Basadi in Women Awards, and Crown Gospel Awards.
Corporate Social Investment: The SABC expanded its social impact through initiatives including home-building projects with Gift of the Givers and Habitat for Humanity, food and water relief efforts in Limpopo, the donation of laptops to schools, and over R11 million in free airtime granted to NGOs supporting education, health, and gender-based violence awareness.
Commitment to Good Governance: Guided by King IV™ principles, the SABC strengthened governance, compliance, and ethical conduct, ensuring accountability and transparency across all operations.
Statement from SABC Leadership:
SABC Group CEO, Ms Nomsa Chabeli, shared: “Receiving an unqualified audit opinion for two consecutive years is a clear indication that the SABC is on the right path to restoring stability, embedding strong governance, and fulfilling its public mandate. We remain committed to ensuring the SABC is sustainable, trusted, and continues to serve the people of South Africa.”
Looking Ahead
The SABC will continue to build on these gains by investing in compelling content, digital innovation, and governance reforms that position the public broadcaster as a cornerstone of democracy and a trusted voice for all South Africans.
The SABC Annual Report is available on the Corporation’s website.
ENDS
Issued By: Group Communications
Media Enquiries: Mmoni Ngubane (Head of Communication)
Ngubanemv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3057 | C. 073 688 1590
| Annual Report 2024/25 | Download | |||
| Annual Report 2023/24 | Download | |||
| Annual Report 2022/23 | Download | |||
| Annual Report 2021/22 | Download | |||
| Annual Report 2020/21 | Download | |||
| Annual Report 2019/20 | Download | |||
| Annual Report 2018/19 | Download | |||
| Annual-Report 2017/18 | Download | |||
| Annual-Report 2015/16 | Part1 | Part2 | Part3 | Part4 | Part5 |
| Annual-Report 2014/15 | Part1 | Part2 | Part3 | Part4 | Part5 |
| Annual-Report 2013/14 | Part1 | Part2 | Part3 | Part4 |
| Annual-Report 2012/13 | Part1 | Part2 | Part3 | Part4 | Part5 |
| Annual-Report 2012 | Part1 | Part2 | Part3 | Part4 |
| Annual-Report 2010/11 | ||||
| Annual-Report 2009/12 | ||||
| Annual-Report 2008/09 | ||||
| Annual-Report 2008 | ||||
