Season 5
The Big Debate is South Africa's town hall debate show. The show was devised by Ben Cashdan in 2009 and is produced by Broad Daylight Films Foundation, a non-profit production company based in Johannesburg.
Hosted by TV personality Siki Mgabadeli, the show travels across South Africa and beyond, holding our leaders to account and giving a voice to ordinary residents and communities. Nothing is off limits, from health to education, land reform to racism and more.
The show grapples with the most controversial issues and tries to find solutions. From movers and shakers to the masses, everyone is given a chance to air their views.
Over the years the show has featured decision makers and activists from across the world, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, world music icon Angelique Kidjo, former World Bank president Robert Zoellick, former African Union Chairperson Bingu wa Mutharika, former Botswana President Festus Mogae, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
It has also included the voices of residents and community leaders from as far afield as Khayelitsha in Cape Town, New York and New Delhi as well as Bolivia and Colombia.
Presenter: Siki Mgabadeli
Executive Producer: Ben Cashdan
Broadcaster: eNCA, e.tv, eAfrica, eKasi+
Locations: Johannesburg, Cape Town, New York
Topics
1. Workers' Rights
2. The Right to Communicate
3. Maternal Health
4. Water & Sanitation
5. Youth
6. Transport
7. Corruption
Controversy
The fifth season of the show was due to be broadcast on SABC2 from 12 September, 2013, but the SABC's acting chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, unilaterally ordered the show off the air just prior to its premiere. Motsoeneng also ordered all repeats of The Big Debate to be stopped.
The broadcaster refused to give a reason for the cancellation but claimed it was "incorrectly commissioned" and allowed the SABC newsroom to be "compromised".
The decision led to a massive public outcry and was followed by a public protest at the end of October at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters, on the back of growing concerns from the public about the suppression of freedom of speech at the SABC.
One of the scheduled episodes was to deal with government corruption, leading to a public perception that such a debate would not be tolerated on the state-owned and -operated broadcaster.
Shortly thereafter the fifth season was picked up by DStv's eNCA channel, with future broadcasts on the Sabido stable of channels including e.tv, eAfrica and eKasi+.