Openings at The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)

The main purpose of the position

• To supervise and facilitate production and delivery of all Mandate Programming (Drama & Education) in line with the station’s programming strategy, programme briefs, & ICASA regulations and licence conditions.

Key Accountabilities

• Make input in the strategy formulation of the radio station or business unit.
• Develop, supervise, and implement a strategic plan for the production and acquisition of high-quality Mandate (Drama & Education) Programmes across all mandate areas.
• Quality checks all content submissions for all mandate areas and ensure compliance with mandate and licence requirements.
• Ensure adherence to the station’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and ensure sign-off with internal and external stakeholders, and see that they are executed.
• Keeping abreast of government legislation and regulations about the entire broadcast value chain and compiling weekly, monthly, quarterly ICASA, SAMRO, SAMPRA, BCCSA, and other legislated compliance reports.
• Execute programme formats, striking an acceptable balance on genre delivery according to the station’s licence conditions (Talk vs Music, Music Quotas (local vs International), Magazines, Documentaries, Commemorations, Docu-Drama, Soapie, Serial Drama, Education, Religion, Sport, Language development, Storytelling, Disability, Social Cohesion, African Renaissance, and Cultural content.
• Ensure implementation of Programming content recommended by research findings, Programming Mediation Review and Advisory Committees (PMRAC), and Public feedback sessions.
• Conduct continuous reviews of products, markets, and revenue to meet strategic objectives and ensure a competitive edge.
• Liaise with various internal (i.e., Sales and Marketing, Finance, Audience Research, Internal Content Providers, etc.) and external stakeholders to ensure mandate programming strategic objectives are met.
• Implement a multi- platform media plan in line with approved strategy and briefs.
• Supervise and implement the output of Mandate Programming plans for the station within the allocated budget.
• Organise resources for the programming team and ensure efficient utilisation thereof.
• Utilise continuous research to ensure high-quality programming to deliver on programming objectives.
• Monitor programmes to ensure quality and alignment with station position.
• Review business plans to ensure schedule stability.
• Explore opportunities for Co-productions and pre-sales for cost containment.
• Interaction with radio sales to ensure that product campaign runs smoothly and is on time for on- air production.
• Utilize research information from marketing to create brand and programming awareness.
• Adherence to regulations and legislation in broadcasting i.e., ICASA compliance, the Broadcast Act etc.
• Monitor and report on the operational risks and compliance matters.
• Implement internal control measures to ensure good governance.
• Supervise risks to protect organisational integrity, create value, prevent financial loss, and ensure compliance with applicable policies and legislation.
• Implement Risk Management Plan in line with the Organizational Risk Framework:
• Formulate Internal Risk Controls
• Communications
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Implement internal risk audits, identify and address gaps.
• Engage constantly with Internal and External business partners to achieve business objectives.
• Understand the needs of the station’s target audience and offer compelling programming content in line with the mandate.
• Oversee public engagements and respond to complaints.
• Liaise with Sales Department and Business Development around programme sponsorships, trade exchanges, and product placement campaigns to realize revenue growth.
• Liaise with internal and external content providers to ensure content alignment with programming strategy.
• Effective implementation of the Performance Management System in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
• Supervise adequate staffing for workload, succession planning, and effective leadership.
• Effective briefing and communication with departmental staff.
• Complete Personal Development Plans (PDP) for direct reports.
• Provide direction on the retention and attraction of staff.
• Conduct Individual coaching, counselling, and mentoring on an ongoing basis to meet performance needs.
• Coordinate available staff and ensure fair and balanced distribution of work.
• Carry out reasonable delegated duties that may be required to ensure that the station operates and performs effectively and efficiently.

Requirements:

• National diploma in Speech & Drama, Linguistics, Education, or relevant area. (NQF Level 6)
• Creativity - deviating from traditional methods in developing programme briefs/script
• Digital media skills.
• 4-5 years’ experience in radio content production
• Ability to create reporting processes to ensure accountability.
• Excellent command of the language of the radio station (both written and spoken).
• Advanced knowledge of Radio production processes and systems.
• Budget management and forward planning ability.
• Project management skills.
• Editorial acumen.
• Good problem-solving skills.
• People management skills.
• Information management systems
• Understanding of the different role players within the media landscape.
• Understanding of applicable legislative frameworks and regulations, ICASA, BCCSA Code, SABC Editorial Policies, Presentation Style guide, Clocks, Formats, and high-quality standards for programmes.

Deadline:1st March,2026

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MAIN PURPOSE OF POSITION

• To identify, initiate, investigate, research, plan and record relevant material from stories that are complex in nature and to produce news reports in Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Sepedi and English that are fair, accurate and compelling to target audiences

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Initiate and cover stories as assigned or commissioned in at least two languages.
• Provide quality scripts and clear voice-overs, including on-air broadcasts.
• Investigate and break stories and follow them through to final product before broadcast.
• Maintain special focus areas (such as crime etc).
• Give informative and well-researched input to live Radio Current Affairs and TV News programmes and debates, package stories for News and Current Affairs programmes and do live crossings into News Bulletins.
• Check facts, accuracy and quality of stories.
• Set up interviews and lead discussions for broadcast, including crossovers.
• Meet story deadlines.
• Keep abreast of news events / developments.
• Obtain broadcast quality audio-visuals using relevant recording equipment.
• Adhere to South Africa’s Constitution, all broadcasting and other legislation, ICASA’s licence conditions and regulations, the BCCSA and Press Council codes of conduct, including rulings, the SABC Editorial Policies, News and Current Affairs style-guide and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) etc.

REQUIREMENTS:

• National Diploma / Degree in Journalism or Media Studies or equivalent qualification (NQF 6 / 7)
• 5 years’ experience in general News and Current Affairs reporting
• Drivers License 
• Understand legislation and regulations impacting broadcasting
• Sound understanding of current trends in the social, economic and political environment
• Computer literacy
• Ability to interact and manage different role-players / stakeholders at various levels
• Understanding and professional use of multi-media platforms
• Excellent command of both written and spoken (Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Sepedi & English) language of Radio and TV News and Current Affairs to optimise the impact of editorial content
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of News and Current Affairs production processes and systems
• Journalistic and editorial acumen
• Good, “sound” knowledge of and interest in Radio and TV broadcast developments, trends and technologies, including the media industry

Deadline:7th March,2026