A Strategic Partnership for Digital Inclusion by A-11-Y
This proposal outlines a strategic partnership between the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and A-11-Y Pty Ltd, a specialist South African digital accessibility consultancy.
An important conversation about digital inclusion has been opened by a formal complaint from BlindSA, a prominent disability rights organization, regarding the digital inaccessibility of the SABC’s rsg.co.za website. We believe this complaint is a critical indicator of a systemic issue that exposes the SABC to significant legal, financial, and reputational risk.
The core challenge is that the SABC’s digital assets currently do not appear to meet South Africa’s constitutional and legislative requirements for accessibility. Specifically, this indicates non-compliance with the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA), which mandates the removal of barriers for persons with disabilities. This situation stands in direct contradiction to the public broadcaster’s foundational mandate and motto: “Everywhere For Everyone, Always”.
A-11-Y Pty Ltd proposes a three-phase project to address this challenge and position the SABC as a national leader in digital inclusion.
Mitigate Legal Risk
Address non-compliance with PEPUDA and other constitutional mandates.
Expand Your Audience
Reach millions of South Africans living with disabilities (16% of the global population).
Fulfill Your Mandate
Authentically live up to the motto: “Everywhere For Everyone, Always”.
Why Digital Accessibility is Important: Risk and Opportunity
The Legal Mandate: A Non-Negotiable Duty
In South Africa, digital accessibility is not an optional best practice; it is a legal and constitutional obligation. As a state-owned enterprise, the SABC is held to the highest standard of compliance with the nation’s equality legislation, anchored in Section 9 of the Constitution of South Africa.
This constitutional principle is given practical effect through several key pieces of legislation:
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PEPUDA (Act 4 of 2000):
This is the most critical statute. PEPUDA defines discrimination not only as a direct act but also as an *omission*, including the “failing to eliminate obstacles that unfairly limit or restrict persons with disabilities from enjoying equal opportunities”. An inaccessible website is a definitive digital obstacle. The framework suggests that inaction could be interpreted as an ongoing act of discrimination.
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PAIA (Act 2 of 2000):
This Act reinforces the constitutional right of all citizens to access information held by public bodies. When this information is provided through digital channels that are inaccessible, the SABC is effectively denying a segment of the population this fundamental right.
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Government e-Services Standards:
The South African government’s own standards for its digital services signal a clear governmental expectation for the accessibility of public-facing digital platforms, encouraging, at a minimum, Level A WCAG compliance..
A Phased Approach to Sustainable Accessibility
We propose a proven, structured methodology to guide the SABC toward achieving and maintaining digital inclusion. This is a partnership designed to build lasting internal capability, not to create dependency.
Phase 1: Audit & Discovery
Objective: To conduct a thorough, human-led manual accessibility audit of the SABC’s main corporate site and templates, specified by the SABC, to identify and document all violations of the WCAG 2.2 Level AA standard.
Methodology: Our certified accessibility experts will perform the audit using a combination of assistive technologies (including screen readers like NVDA and JAWS), code inspection, and manual testing protocols on a representative sample of pages and user flows.
Deliverables: Based on the investment tier you select, this ranges from a basic issue report (CSV) to a full compliance package, including a PDF report, VPAT, and Accessibility Statement.
The Business Case: Fulfilling the Mandate & Growing the Audience
Addressing accessibility should not be viewed as a compliance-driven cost center but as a strategic investment in innovation, brand enhancement, and market growth. The value is measurable and has been proven by your peers.
Precedent: National Public Radio (NPR) Case Study
A compelling case study comes from NPR, a direct peer of the SABC. Motivated by accessibility regulations, NPR committed to adding transcripts to their audio content. This single accessibility feature delivered significant, measurable business benefits:
More than Compliance
With 16% of the global population experiencing significant disability, this represents millions of potential viewers, listeners, and digital users—a significant and loyal audience segment that the SABC is currently unable to serve effectively.
Dual Benefits for SABC
Given the SABC’s multilingual mandate, accessibility serves a powerful dual purpose. It not only provides access for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community but also acts as a powerful language-learning aid, improving comprehension for millions of citizens accessing content in a second or third language. This directly supports the SABC’s nation-building role.
Enhancing the SABC Brand
Actively championing digital accessibility is a powerful demonstration of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) that reinforces the SABC’s public service mandate. Taking a leadership position on this issue can generate significant positive public relations, rebuild trust, and solidify the SABC’s brand as a modern, inclusive, and truly national institution.
Project Investment and Partnership Options
Our pricing is transparent and based on benchmarked South African market rates for expert-level accessibility services. We are also open to discussing alternative trade agreements, such as air-time.
Pro-Bono Initial Findings
To demonstrate our commitment, we have already conducted a complimentary high-level review of **rsg.co.za** and **ukhozifm.co.za**. The findings, which highlight critical WCAG violations, confirm the systemic nature of these barriers and provide a clear justification for the comprehensive audit proposed below.
Phase 1 Investment: Comprehensive Audit Tiers (sabc.co.za)
We offer two distinct tiers for the comprehensive audit, allowing you to select the package that best fits your immediate compliance needs.
Tier 1: Standard Audit
Identify & Report Issues
R 95,800 (excl. VAT)
- ✓ Manual WCAG 2.2 AA Audit (Up to 20 templates/pages)
- ✓ Executive Findings Report (Detailed PDF)
- ✓ Technical Issue List (CSV Export)
- ✓ Executive Presentation
- ✗ Shared Project (HUGR)
- ✗ VPAT 2.5 (WCAG Edition)
- ✗ Accessibility Statement
A Note on Audit Methodology
Our testing can be performed in your pre-production or staging environments. However, for maximum efficiency and impact, we recommend conducting the audit on live, public-facing websites. The “shift-left” approach allows your team to fix issues *before* they are released to the public, saving time, money, and reputational risk.
Indicative Budgets for Phases 2 & 3
Phase 2: Remediation Support
Expert consultation and validation provided on a time-and-materials basis at our standard hourly rate. The cost is highly dependent on the number and complexity of issues uncovered in Phase 1. Compiling a Accessibility Policy can also be included in this phase.
R850 p.h. (excl. VAT)
Phase 3: Training
Per-session workshops (e.g., full-day technical workshop for 15 developers). A detailed proposal can be discussed following the audit.
R18,000 – R30,000
Optional: Ongoing Retainer
To ensure the SABC remains compliant as platforms evolve, we can provide ongoing support, including mini-audits of new features and on-demand consultation.
About A-11-Y Pty Ltd: Your Local Accessibility Partner
We are a specialist digital accessibility firm co-founded by Eugene Smith and Ariana Smith, with a singular focus on partnering with South African organizations to create inclusive digital experiences, ensuring no one is left behind.
Our Expertise
Our team consists of leading accessibility professionals in South Africa, holding certifications and memberships with key international bodies, including the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). Our core services are centered on a holistic approach to digital inclusion, encompassing WCAG Compliance Audits, Digital Accessibility Consulting, and Tailored Training Programs.
Local Expertise
Deep understanding of the South African legal, cultural, and business context, ensuring all recommendations are relevant and actionable.
Proven Methodology
Our structured engagement process provides a clear and strategic path to achieving sustainable accessibility.
Partnership Focus
Our primary goal is to build your internal capacity, not create dependency. We define success by your ability to independently maintain a high standard of accessibility.
Our Partners & Proven Track Record
We are proud to be trusted partners in accessibility for leading South African organizations and global accessibility leaders. Our collaborative work includes:
Next Steps: Commencing a Partnership
We request a formal meeting with the relevant SABC stakeholders within the next 15 business days to move this critical initiative forward. The objectives for this meeting are:
- To present this proposal in detail and clarify the audit tiers, legal, and financial aspects.
- To gain a deeper understanding of the SABC’s internal technical capabilities and development workflows.
- To formalize the engagement for the Phase 1 Audit and begin the journey toward establishing the SABC as a true leader in digital accessibility.
Eugene Smith, Co-Founder, A-11-Y Pty Ltd
+27 66 542 6184 | eugene@a11y.co.za | www.a-11-y.org