S.A. May Get Television

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32164, 6 December 1969, Page 21

S.A. May Get Television

WW'M?* CAPE TOWN. A Government dedofon in favour of the introduction of television in South Africa is widely expected before the General Election in April. The service might open in the middle of 1971.

The subject of televiaion h«g provoked poJitiwl controversy for the last Ave years at lout South Africa is the only major industrial State without a television network, and it must be the only country in the world into which it is illegal. to import a domestic television set.

Six Principals Evidence pointing to the Govemmeot'a imminent »urrender on the television issue is not lacking. In Parlia. ment earlier this year. Mr M. C. C. J. Van Rensburg. the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, laid down six principles to govern a South

African television networkThese amounted to strict Government supervision and OpntroL Mr Van Rensburg sa|d subsequently that “no amount of pressure" would force the Government to introduce television.

The very next day, he denied having said It The South African Broadcasting Corporation, which le State-controlled, is understood to have acquired the technical capacity and some of the basic facilities needed for television, There la, too, the esse of the Johannesburg company called Teijoy, which has been inviting people to sign a form reserving hired television sots now, although they have to pay the weekly rental only after the first programme has been transmiv

Intriguing Enterprise This is an intriguing enterprise and both the response—lo,ooo orders in a few weeks —and the fact that two National Party senators are on the company's board add to its relevance. In Cape Town, another company has obtained the exclusive South African rights to manufacture an Italian television sot under licence, and plans to start production at ita new <570,000 factory in the middle of next yeip. A prominent dealer, who

handles equipment for some of the hundreds of closedcircuit (mostly educational) systems licensed by the Government, has disclosed that many Afrikaans films have been made by various agencies during the last two or three years. Such films would meet the objections of opponents of television who argue that a flood Of American and British films and shows would en* danger the Afrikaner's lan. guage, which has legal parity with English in Bputh Africa.

Farmers have passed resolutions in favour «f television at national and provincial meetings, As one delegate said: "We, as farmers, are supposed to be the conservative people. If we are in favour of television, the population in the country must be overwhelmingly fa favour of it" Commercial Service As the white population is too small to support a television service on two channels (English and Afrikaans) which would cost an estimated £23m in capital out lay and A«m a year to run, the service would have to bo commercial,

There are also ideological objections by people who feel that it would be dangerous to end the isolation of the Afrikaner nationalist who currently relies on party papers and State-controlled radio for his news.

The strongest opponent! of television were formerly to be found on the Right wing Of. ths ruling National Party, which broke off a month ago, to form a new Verkrampte party under Dr Hertzog, He, as Minister qf Posts until March last year, said a few months ago: “If, at the present time you introduce television, you will pay for it with the end of th* white man.” By dismissing the Verkramptes from his party. Mr Vorster, the Prime Minister, has liberated the Government from this extreme attitude.