SOS Coalition

A Civil Society Coalition committed to public service media in the public interest in South Africa.

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

You're invited to the 2026 Public Service Media Symposium

This year, the SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition's Annual Public Service Media Symposium returns as a two-day event, bringing together media practitioners, academics, civil society, and industry experts to engage on the most pressing issues facing public service media.

Join us for insightful discussions on media governance, sustainability, digital transformation and public service media advocacy across Southern Africa

📅 8–9 September 2026
📍 Southern Sun Sandton
🕘 09:00 – 17:00

Secure your place and join us as we work towards a strengthen public service media landscape.

Register here: https://t.co/XLTI6jHP0Y

#PSMSymposium2026 #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

8 DAYS TO GO! The countdown is on!

In just 8 days, we will bring together voices from across the public service media landscape to discuss the role of public service media in our democracy.

🗓️8–9 September 2026
📍 Southern Sun Sandton
⏰08:30 – 17:00

Don’t miss the conversation. Register here and join us: https://t.co/qbcKD8hbbU

#PSMSymposium26 #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

Reminder: Don’t miss the Public Service Media Symposium!

The countdown is on! Join us for the Public Service Media Symposium as we aim to create an inclusive platform for dialogue, strategic partnerships, and collaborative solutions that strengthen the PSM ecosystem on the continent.

📅 8–9 September 2026
⏰ 08:30 - 17:00
📍 Southern Sun Sandton

Be part of the conversation on strengthening public service media

Have you registered yet? Don’t miss out!

Register here: https://t.co/1wqdbCT5Sa

#PSMSymposium26 #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

The SOS Coalition hosted a Summit on the Future of Public Interest Television Broadcasting in South Africa, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the future of public interest television broadcasting and the sustainability of public service media.

A delegation from the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies (PCCDT) participated in the Summit. Following the Summit, and in line with commitments made during the discussions, the Committee produced a Summit report highlighting the key issues raised, commitments made and recommendations emerging from the discussions. The Summit report was subsequently adopted by the PCCDT at its meeting held on 18 August 2026.

Kindly see the report here: https://t.co/aHNwweBEi8 or scan the QR code

#SOSSummit #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

New press release: The SABC needs adequate and sustainable funding to fulfil its public mandate

The SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition and Moxii Africa (formerly Media Monitoring Africa) are deeply concerned about the continued lack of adequate funding for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to fulfil its public service mandate, particularly ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The SABC has indicated that it requires R120 million in additional funding to ensure comprehensive coverage of the 2026 Local Government Elections. The need for this funding has also been raised in Parliament, with the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies calling for financial support for the public broadcaster to enable it to properly plan and deliver adequate election coverage.

The SOS Coalition and Moxii Africa believe that this is not simply a matter of providing additional resources to the public broadcaster. It is essentially about protecting citizens' right to access information and ensuring meaningful participation in South Africa's democracy.

Read the full statement here: https://t.co/JlchC6OYsN

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

Hear directly from some of our attendees as they share their thoughts and reflections on last year’s Public Service Media Symposium.

We look forward to welcoming you this year for another important conversation on the future of public service media.

Join us and be part of the conversation.

🗓️ 8-9 September 2026
📍 Southern Sun Sandton
⏰ 08:00 – 17:00

Register here: https://t.co/1kNDFRvcwl

#PSMSymposium2026 #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

A heartfelt thank you to our valued partner, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), for once again partnering with us to make the Public Service Media Symposium possible.

Your continued support demonstrates a shared commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue, strengthening collaboration, and advancing the future of public service media. Together, we are creating a platform for critical conversations that inspire action and drive lasting impact.

Hear from Hendrik Sittig, Director of the Regional Media Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa at KAS, as he shares why supporting the Public Service Media Symposium is important to KAS and why investing in strong independent public service media matters.

Watch the video below and join us in celebrating this valued partnership.

#PSMSymposium2026 #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

Let’s reveal this year’s theme for the Annual Public Service Media (PSM) Symposium:

Strengthening public service media’s digital future and advocacy

This theme explores the future of PSM in an increasingly digital and rapidly changing media environment. As audiences migrate to online and on-demand platforms, public broadcasters across Africa face growing challenges related to sustainability, digital transformation, funding, technological change, platform dominance and access to information.

The theme highlights the need for a larger PSM digital footprint coupled with accessibility and strengthened advocacy efforts that protect and advance an independent and sustainable PSM ecosystem in Southern Africa.

The Symposium will provide a platform for stakeholders to engage on how public service media can adapt, innovate, and remain relevant in the digital era, also with a strong emphasis on role of advocacy in holding PSM and oversight structures to account.

Register here: https://t.co/SXWYOTHa78

#PSMSymposium2026 #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

Today, we honour the courage, resilience, and leadership of the women who came before us, and celebrate the women who continue to shape South Africa every day.

On this Women's Day, we remember the thousands of women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in the fight for justice and equality. Their legacy reminds us that when women stand together, they have the power to transform nations.

Let’s honour their legacy today.

Happy Women's Day, South Africa.

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

Last year's Symposium sparked important conversations about the future of public service media. The discussions prompted industry experts to identify opportunities and challenges facing the sector.

Swipe through to revisit some of the key conclusions that emerged from the 2025 Public Service Media Symposium.

These conversations have helped shape ongoing advocacy and will continue at this year's Symposium as we explore the next steps for strengthening public service media in Southern Africa and beyond.

🗓️8–9 September 2026
⏰ 09:00 – 17:00

Register here: https://t.co/MJH5Y5nZK4

#PSMSymposium2026 #SOSCoalition

[Campaign For Free Expression @_FreeExpression]

[IN PICTURES] CFE is at the PIIE event at the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre.

CFE is a member of PIIE

You can join the proceedings online through this link: https://t.co/p3oIBUsN6h

@moxiiafrica @HelenSuzmanFdn @SOSCoalition @SAEditorsForum

[Campaign For Free Expression @_FreeExpression]

July was a big month for freedom of expression: a new electoral code ahead of the local government elections, a 20 hour Hackathon in response to the 30 June marches, a long-awaited judgement in the case of a gagged journalist, and more. Here are snippets of CFE’s work this July:

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

SAVE THE DATE!
The Annual Public Service Media (PSM) Symposium is back!

This year, we're expanding the symposium into a two-day event, bringing together even more voices, ideas, and conversations on strengthening the PSM ecosystem in Southern Africa.

This year’s symposium is under the theme Strengthening public service media’s digital future and advocacy” and presents an opportunity to develop forward looking solutions to these challenges while reinforcing the role of PSM as a public good. Day one will focus on the challenges, reforms, sustainability, and governance issues affecting the SABC while day two will broaden the discussion to public media advocacy across Southern Africa, providing a platform for regional collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of best practices to strengthen PSM in the region.

More details on the programme, speakers, venue, and registration will be announced soon.
Stay tuned and mark your calendars, we look forward to welcoming you!

#PSMSymposium #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

At the SOS Summit on the Future of Public Interest Television Broadcasting in South Africa, the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies (PCCDT) responded to key issues raised throughout the discussion and outline the committee’s next steps.

If you couldn't attend, you can still be part of the conversation. Watch the summit sessions on our YouTube channel and hear directly from the Committee and other leading voices as they discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the public interest television.

Watch the full recordings here: https://t.co/jeF1r8sdCv
#SOSSummit #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

The SOS Coalition was honoured to welcome the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies (PCCDT) to our Inaugural Summit on the Future of Public Interest Television Broadcasting in South Africa.

The Committee's participation underscored the importance of collaborative engagement between Parliament, civil society, broadcasters, and industry stakeholders in shaping a sustainable future for public interest television broadcasting.

Missed the discussions or want to revisit the insights? Watch the full summit sessions on our YouTube channel and join the conversation.

Watch here: https://t.co/LxBU5Zux4D

#SOSSummit #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

Our latest SOS Coalition Newsletter is out now, bringing you updates on our advocacy work, community engagements, partnerships, and the ongoing efforts to strengthen public interest broadcasting in South Africa.

From our inaugural Summit on the Future of Public Interest Television Broadcasting to community workshops raising awareness about Broadcast Digital Migration, catch up on everything we've been working on.

Read the newsletter here: https://t.co/Dda3eq28VJ

#SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

Press Release: Broadcasters, the Television Industry and Civil Society Unite Behind a Shared Vision for The Future of Public Interest Television

On 08 July 2026, the SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition (SOS) successfully convened a Summit titled, “The Future of Public Interest Television Broadcasting” in Sandton, Johannesburg, under the theme "Reimagining Universal Access to Public Interest Content in the Digital Age”.

The Summit brought together representatives from government, Parliament, ICASA, broadcasters, civil society organisations, academia, and industry experts in what participants described as a timely and urgently needed multi-stakeholder engagement. Participants agreed that the magnitude of challenges facing the sector called for sustained collaboration to chart a shared way forward

Read the press statement here: https://t.co/53oEregQwE

#SOSSummit #SOSCoalition

[SOS Coalition @SOSCoalition]

The SOS Coalition's inaugural Summit on the Future of Public Interest Television Broadcasting in South Africa was a resounding success.

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended and contributed to the rich and insightful discussions on the future of public interest television broadcasting. Your participation and commitment helped make this landmark event possible.

We also wish to thank the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies for joining us and contributing to these important conversations.

The presentation of the draft Summit Declaration statement resulted in practical commitments on how the sector moves forward to resolve long standing challenges related to strengthening the future of public interest television broadcasting in South Africa. This multistakeholder approach marks an important step towards strengthening a sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready broadcasting sector.

The full recording of the summit will be available on our YouTube channel soon. Stay tuned! We will share the link as soon as it is live.

#SOSSummit #SOSCoalition