For thousands of Afrikaans-speaking South Africans, the familiar sound of the SABC’s Nuus bulletin at 18:15 on SABC2 is a trusted daily update.
But this past weekend, many were left confused and frustrated when the programme suddenly disappeared from TV screens—with no warning or explanation.
DA demands answers on SABC decision to abruptly cancel ‘Nuus’ bulletin
According to the Democratic Alliance (DA), the cancellation came without any formal notice from the SABC.
There was no Afrikaans news bulletin on Saturday, 5 April, or Sunday, 6 April 2025. This has raised serious concerns about whether the show has been cancelled permanently or if this was just a temporary issue.
On Friday evening, newsreader Willem Pelser closed the bulletin by simply saying, “enjoy the weekend,” without suggesting the broadcast would not continue the next day.
The DA says that the lack of communication from the SABC is “troubling.”
They have now demanded an urgent explanation. Willie Aucamp, a DA Member of Parliament, stated that the party will write to the SABC to find out whether the cancellation is permanent, a once-off event, or part of a broader programming change.
He stressed that the Afrikaans news bulletin is not just a show—it is a vital public service watched by more than 300,000 people.
Aucamp added that SABC, as South Africa’s public broadcaster, has a duty to serve all language groups equally.
He accused the broadcaster of showing “indifference” towards Afrikaans-speaking viewers and said the DA will do everything possible to make sure that the public broadcaster is held accountable.
Viewers have also voiced their anger online, especially since this is not the first time Afrikaans news has been moved or altered without public engagement.
Just last year, the SABC moved weekday Nuus bulletins from SABC2 to SABC3, and changed the time to 20:30—a decision that was criticised by viewers for making it harder to access the bulletin.
It is still unclear whether this weekend’s disappearance of the programme marks a permanent cancellation or a once-off disruption.
The SABC has not yet released a public statement to explain what happened or what viewers can expect in the future.
As the situation unfolds, the DA is calling for the immediate return of the bulletin and clarity from the SABC to ensure that Afrikaans-speaking South Africans are not left in the dark.
