Things are coming to a head with the increasingly troubled South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). But the irony is that while for years critics of both the ANC and SABC have accused — and not without merit — the government of being too closely tied to the state broadcaster, the current circumstance may find the ANC ready to cut SABC loose. It seems to me that in the short run this might be a perilous circumstance for SABC, but in the long run, being forced to be independent might enable it truly to be independent. SABC is still poised, based on infrastructure and status, to be the most important source of news and information not only in South Africa, but across the region. Being cut loose from the government might be the best thing that can happen to the SABC even if all appears to be grim right now.
Of course there is a flipside to the recent shake-up. It is possible that the ANC simply sees the current restructuring as a chance to tighten the reigns on the SABC. In the short term this might provide the SABC with a comfort zone, but it is hard to see how that would bode well for true independent journalism in South Africa.