A Facebook post dated October 2, on MEC Panyaza Lesufi’s page was published stating:
“We need to meet with South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) management to discuss the negative influence of soapies on our learners and the possibility of moving the time slots… the young ones are exposed to too much kissy-kissy, which puts them at risk of many social ills.”
Questions were sent to the MEC’s social media team and a thorough response was provided.
According to Oupa Bodibe, spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Education, the department is generally concerned that when pupils arrive home from school between 14:00 and 19:00, the dominating programmes are soapies and very little educational programmes.
“The department would like to see more content that is educational during this important time that encourages our pupils to focus on their studies in order to become responsible adults,” he said.
Bodibe said the department has not yet met with the SABC management on the matter; however, hopes to meet with the corporation sometime in the near future.
