Social Development Minister Tolashe admits no cost-benefit analysis was conducted for DSDTV channel
Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe says no monitoring and evaluation was done to quantify the reach, value-for-money, effectiveness, and efficiency since the DSDTV was launched.
Image: Jairus Mmutle / GCIS
Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe has confirmed that no cost-benefit analysis was conducted on the now-suspended department’s television channel.
“No comprehensive business case was done with cost-benefit analysis to justify establishing DSDTV and the associated costs,” Tolashe said.
“To date, no monitoring and evaluation has been done to quantify the reach, value-for-money, effectiveness, and efficiency since the DSDTV was launched.”
Tolashe was responding last week to parliamentary questions from ActionSA MP Dareleen James, who asked about the expenditure on the DSDTV and a copy of the business case that was used to justify the DSDTV expenditure.
She told James that the DSDTV platform was suspended pending a comprehensive investigation, which is currently under way.
“Serious concerns of potential mismanagement of public funds were uncovered by the Auditor-General on DSDTV and NISPIS, including questionable appointment of service providers.
“The investigation is expected to, among others, uncover whether the DSDTV was value-for-money, its reach and its effectiveness and efficiency as a platform through which the department and its entities communicate with the public.”
Tolashe also said the DSD TV project was budgeted at R1.5 million for each financial year.
“The amount for the entire project, including its hardware, was R1.5 million - R1 million for the DSDTV Over-the-Top Platform and R500,000 for the live streaming hardware to be installed at the DSDTV studio.”
In 2023/24, R1,040,000 was paid to service provider Vula Connect, further R937,548 again to Vula Connect in 2024/25, and R1.1m to Axab Group in this current year.
“A new service provider was appointed to provide the maintenance service to the OTT platform starting in May 2025 at a monthly cost of R135,811.10.”
Tolashe said the DSDTV focuses on areas like child justice, ensuring that children in conflict with the law are treated fairly and in accordance with the law. It also addresses youth and older person services that relate to criminality.
“There were no major successes in the aforesaid area as DSDTV focused on communication needs instead of the original intent of the OTT.”
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za