Communications minister opts for out-of-court settlement to expedite analogue switch-off in SA

COMMUNICATIONS and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi wants an out-of-court settlement reached in the case that brought the analogue switch-off to a standstill.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

Responding to parliamentary questions, Malatsi said the department aimed to resolve the matter in a non-litigious manner.

"We have mandated our legal representatives to engage their counterparts representing the broadcasters to explore the possibility of settling this matter out of court," he said.

In March, e.tv owner eMedia, Media Monitoring Africa, and the SOS Save Our Public Broadcasting group were granted interim relief by the Gauteng High Court.

The applicants had sought to challenge the decision to set the analogue switch-off (ASO) on March 31, 2025, on a number of grounds, namely, irrationality, unlawfulness, absence of consultation, and noncompliance.

ASO refers to the planned transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting, also known as Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).