Sentech is a South African State Owned Enterprise (SOE) operating in the broadcasting signal distribution and telecommunications sectors of South Africa.

Sentech began as a technical division of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (“SABC”) responsible for signal distribution services of the Corporation.

In 1992, the SABC corporatised the division as Sentech, and in 1996 the Sentech Act 63 of 1996 was amended, converting Sentech into a separate public company responsible for providing broadcasting signal distribution services as a ‘common carrier’ to licensed television and radio broadcasters.

At present a significant portion of Sentech’s existing assets are over their useful life, however approximately 16 % thereof still need to service existing analogue providers.

The maintenance of the analogue assets is becoming increasingly expensive and onerous with suppliers and parts becoming scarcer due to the almost complete adoption and dominance of digital technology.

Prudential Asset Management Consultants South Africa

During the first quarter of 2016, VBKOM in partnership with ILC Lerumo (Pty) Ltd assisted Sentech to assess and recommend an optimized approach to the maintenance management of their ageing communication assets, derived from, and consistent with, the organisational strategic plan and the asset management policy.

The asset management strategy which was delivered outlined firstly, amongst other things, whether the proposed organisational mission, services and resultant physical asset requirements are sustainable within realistically anticipated funding levels.

Enterprise Risk Management Structuring and Reporting

It also secondly identified asset risks and proposed risk management strategies to address the risk of vulnerable assets not supporting mission critical services to the required levels.

VBKOM enjoyed the opportunity to work with Lerumo and look forward to a successful Sentech with many more hours of uninterrupted television and radio broadcasting.