Overview
- The SABC, which released fresh ratings data Tuesday, said Face the Nation will end on March 31 because it missed primetime targets.
- Communications Minister Solly Malatsi requested a detailed report Tuesday, turning a programming call into a test of the public broadcaster's independence.
- Opposition groups link the cut to a February interview with presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, a claim the Presidency and the SABC reject.
- The released figures show about 120,000 average viewers against a 259,475 target with a 0.1% audience rating versus a 1% to 2% goal, and a rank of 42.
- The SABC cites repeated preemptions for live national proceedings, a premium presenter fee with a dedicated producer, and a 2025 net loss over R250 million as pressures that made the show hard to sustain.