ABSTRACT
The SABC is a principal cultural institution in South Africa with 20 radio stations as well as five television broadcast channels, with some of its stations reaching over 90% of the population. Its influence spreads to the rest of the continent of Africa. This chapter explores the historical foundations of the SABC to create a springboard for building conversations on public service broadcasting ‘independence’. A democratic state is erected upon solid institutional foundations that are insulated from power. Therefore, the central task of this chapter is to examine the foundations of the SABC to lay the groundwork for critically examining the contested concept of ‘independence’, a task it accomplishes by engaging with issues of power, knowledge, and identity.
