SABC Board in front of portfolio committee on communication to present turnaround strategy for public broadcaster. #SABCturnaroud

Nomvula Mokonyane, minister of communication, not in committee sitting as she is part of InterMinisterial Committee planning funeral of late Minister Edna #Molewa. #SABC

Pinky Kekana, deputy minister of communications, now addressing the comittee. Says there always been challenges at #SABC and that financial model one of it biggest challenges.

Kekana: By paying our TV licences will not only save the #SABC, but also thousands of jobs of staff working for the public broadcaster.

Dear media colleagues, Can we just be journalists and leave activism to activists? Your decision to be personally involved in the stories that you cover, affects us all as we are painted with the same brush.

I have never met Angelo Agrizzi. I simply reported on his racist rants and his links. I will make a submission to State Capture Commission

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: Public procurement – worth hundreds of billions of rands annually – is a critical lever to change the production and ownership patterns of the economy to empower black people, women and youth.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: Compulsory sub-contracting to designated groups in all projects or contracts above R30 million. Nothing prevents organs of state from applying sub-contracting provisions in projects or contracts below R30 million.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: The Public Procurement Bill will be submitted to Cabinet in March 2018 for gazetting for public comments. It will further enable government to use public procurement strategically to advance transformation, achieve efficiencies, and improve governance.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: Government has a number of ‘evergreen’ contracts, which are open-ended. Evergreen contracts create barriers to entry, making it impossible for new entrants to participate in the allocation of government contracts.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: SMMEs and black-owned companies find it very difficult to participate in procurement opportunities as a result.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: Looking to the future, true to the South African budget reform approach, we are not seeking the easy way out and our efforts will not be superficial. We are prioritising public participation. We are taking National Treasury further to the people.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: Given the difficult circumstances we have been in and the choices we made in order to steer the course, maintain the trajectory of our policy objectives and sustain our public finances, we have made the tough calls and decisions that affirm our nationhood.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: At crucial forks in the road, we made and continue to make the critical decisions that continue to forge our nation. The budget we present today is not easy and the choices we have had to make are difficult.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: Through our liberation struggle, and the advent of our democratic era, we have shown incredible perseverance, humanity, selflessness and courage. We have shown the ability to find common ground amidst a painful history and deep division.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: Through this budget, we choose ourselves yet again; we do the things Madiba dared us to do at the advent of our democracy that would affirm humanity’s conviction in the nobility of our course and its pride in our efforts and daily deeds.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: We must once again embody these core values if we are to meet our current challenges. We can and must find in ourselves, the ethical leadership of Madiba, the selflessness of Albertina Sisulu, and the humanity of Hugh Masekela.

#Budget2018 - Gigaba: Most importantly, I would like to thank South Africans who listened to this Budget Speech, for their kind attention, and for their constructive criticism that often helps us to become better at what we are doing. Ngiyabonga, Ke-a-leboha, Ndi-a-livhuwa!

#VickiMomberg has been sentenced to three years in jail with one year suspended. So she will spend two years in jail.

Deputy President David #Mabuza answers questions orally in the National Council of Provinces.