“She is a danger to herself and to the entire country”‚ and President Jacob Zuma “cannot persist” with communications minister Faith Muthambi any longer‚ the Congress of the People (Cope) said on Wednesday.
“She simply could not understand what everyone‚ Cope included‚ has been pointing out to her‚” said party spokesman Dennis Bloem‚ “that the SABC is not a state-owned enterprise but a public broadcaster with a board that was not subject to her.”
A legal opinion sought by Parliament found that Muthambi had overstepped her mark‚ acted unlawfully and usurped the powers of the president when she removed members of the SABC board.
Parliament’s communications committee obtained the legal opinion in March after Hope Zinde‚ Rachel Kalidass and Ronnie Lubisi were removed in two meetings in February.
Muthambi had defended her decision to remove them by relying on the Companies Act.
However‚ Parliament’s legal advisors said this week that “any removal of a SABC board member that is not effected in line with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act as stated above is invalid and therefore unlawful”.
Legal advisor Nathi Mjenxane told the committee that the Broadcasting Act is applicable to the removal of board members and that “any conflicting provision in the Companies Act would be preceded by the relevant provisions of the Broadcasting Act”.
“The only legally valid removal of a SABC board member is by the president as appointing authority in terms of section 15(1)(a) process as outlined or by the president on recommendation of a committee of the National Assembly as set out in section 15(1)(b) read with section 15A(1) of the Broadcasting Act‚” said Mjenxane.
Bloem said: “Such a fine point of the law was entirely lost on (Muthambi).
“She not only unlawfully arrogated to herself a power given to the president‚ she even exceeded that power. She must now fall on her sword and the president must ensure that the three members who were fired are reinstated immediately.”
If Zuma “continues to shield her”‚ Bloem vowed‚ “the time will soon come when he will deeply regret his action”.
“Muthambi is an out and out embarrassment to our country. She has done enough harm and it is she who must be fired‚” Bloem said.
Cope urges Zuma to fire ‘out and out embarrassment’ Muthambi
“She is a danger to herself and to the entire country”‚ and President Jacob Zuma “cannot persist” with communications minister Faith Muthambi any longer‚ the Congress of the People (Cope) said on Wednesday.
“She simply could not understand what everyone‚ Cope included‚ has been pointing out to her‚” said party spokesman Dennis Bloem‚ “that the SABC is not a state-owned enterprise but a public broadcaster with a board that was not subject to her.”
A legal opinion sought by Parliament found that Muthambi had overstepped her mark‚ acted unlawfully and usurped the powers of the president when she removed members of the SABC board.
Parliament’s communications committee obtained the legal opinion in March after Hope Zinde‚ Rachel Kalidass and Ronnie Lubisi were removed in two meetings in February.
Muthambi had defended her decision to remove them by relying on the Companies Act.
However‚ Parliament’s legal advisors said this week that “any removal of a SABC board member that is not effected in line with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act as stated above is invalid and therefore unlawful”.
Legal advisor Nathi Mjenxane told the committee that the Broadcasting Act is applicable to the removal of board members and that “any conflicting provision in the Companies Act would be preceded by the relevant provisions of the Broadcasting Act”.
“The only legally valid removal of a SABC board member is by the president as appointing authority in terms of section 15(1)(a) process as outlined or by the president on recommendation of a committee of the National Assembly as set out in section 15(1)(b) read with section 15A(1) of the Broadcasting Act‚” said Mjenxane.
Bloem said: “Such a fine point of the law was entirely lost on (Muthambi).
“She not only unlawfully arrogated to herself a power given to the president‚ she even exceeded that power. She must now fall on her sword and the president must ensure that the three members who were fired are reinstated immediately.”
If Zuma “continues to shield her”‚ Bloem vowed‚ “the time will soon come when he will deeply regret his action”.
“Muthambi is an out and out embarrassment to our country. She has done enough harm and it is she who must be fired‚” Bloem said.
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