Opposition parties have welcomed a decision by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications to institute a formal parliamentary inquiry into the fitness of the SABC board.
The unanimous decision by the committee followed a marathon sitting dealing with the state broadcaster and its rapid decline in recent times.
The committee also unanimously agreed that the incumbent board members should be requested to resign.
Lauding the decision‚ DA federal executive chairperson James Selfe accused the SABC board of acting like a “gang whose priority has only been to protect the former COO and now Group Executive of Corporate Affairs‚ Hlaudi Motsoeneng‚ and in so doing have collectively led to the malfeasance of the public broadcaster”.
“This is most notably evidenced by the scathing judgments by the Western Cape High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) against Mr Motsoeneng and the Board who have led to losses at the SABC of almost a billion rand in just 2 years.
“This is a much welcomed and long overdue development by Parliament who has for too long avoided holding the public broadcaster and its defunct Board to account as demanded by section 55(2) of the Constitution‚” Selfe said.
African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) MP Steve Swart said his party shared the view expressed by members of parliament across political lines in the committee that the SABC Board was dysfunctional and should be dissolved‚ and that an inquiry should be held into the SABC as a whole.
“This was illustrated by the Board’s support of the irregular appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng‚ in contravention of both the Public Protectors Report‚ as well as a High Court ruling‚ (confirmed by the Supreme Court of Appeal)‚ the ongoing losses incurred by the public broadcaster‚ and the weak presentation by Board members to the Portfolio Committee earlier today‚” Swart said.
The Congress of the People (COPE) also welcomed the development and applauded the “two brave and honest SABC board members Krish Naidoo and Vusi Mavuso for resigning from this dysfunctional board”.
“They have proved their honesty to the nation by not continuing to associate themselves with the rotten SABC board.
“It is clear that this Board is operating like mafias‚ it lacks integrity‚” COPE stated.
“We want to reiterate our position that the Board is not fit‚ it must be dissolved‚” it said.
It added that Communications Minister Faith Muthambi must explain why Motsoeneng was allowed into the meeting room because he is not a member of the SABC board.
Opposition parties welcome decision to institute parliamentary inquiry into SABC board
Opposition parties have welcomed a decision by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications to institute a formal parliamentary inquiry into the fitness of the SABC board.
The unanimous decision by the committee followed a marathon sitting dealing with the state broadcaster and its rapid decline in recent times.
The committee also unanimously agreed that the incumbent board members should be requested to resign.
Lauding the decision‚ DA federal executive chairperson James Selfe accused the SABC board of acting like a “gang whose priority has only been to protect the former COO and now Group Executive of Corporate Affairs‚ Hlaudi Motsoeneng‚ and in so doing have collectively led to the malfeasance of the public broadcaster”.
“This is most notably evidenced by the scathing judgments by the Western Cape High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) against Mr Motsoeneng and the Board who have led to losses at the SABC of almost a billion rand in just 2 years.
“This is a much welcomed and long overdue development by Parliament who has for too long avoided holding the public broadcaster and its defunct Board to account as demanded by section 55(2) of the Constitution‚” Selfe said.
African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) MP Steve Swart said his party shared the view expressed by members of parliament across political lines in the committee that the SABC Board was dysfunctional and should be dissolved‚ and that an inquiry should be held into the SABC as a whole.
“This was illustrated by the Board’s support of the irregular appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng‚ in contravention of both the Public Protectors Report‚ as well as a High Court ruling‚ (confirmed by the Supreme Court of Appeal)‚ the ongoing losses incurred by the public broadcaster‚ and the weak presentation by Board members to the Portfolio Committee earlier today‚” Swart said.
The Congress of the People (COPE) also welcomed the development and applauded the “two brave and honest SABC board members Krish Naidoo and Vusi Mavuso for resigning from this dysfunctional board”.
“They have proved their honesty to the nation by not continuing to associate themselves with the rotten SABC board.
“It is clear that this Board is operating like mafias‚ it lacks integrity‚” COPE stated.
“We want to reiterate our position that the Board is not fit‚ it must be dissolved‚” it said.
It added that Communications Minister Faith Muthambi must explain why Motsoeneng was allowed into the meeting room because he is not a member of the SABC board.
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