MPs are urgently looking for five qualified “fit and proper” candidates to run the SABC and be part of its interim board for the next six months.
Those who apply must have an understanding of broadcasting and the legislation governing it.
Parliament’s communications portfolio committee met on Tuesday for the first time in 2017 to discuss the appointment process of a new SABC interim board.
Parliament could have the names of preferred candidates by the end of the week. They will be sent on to the National Assembly for confirmation and finally to President Jacob Zuma.
The interim board will have its work cut out stabilising the embattled public broadcaster.
Communications portfolio committee chair Humphrey Maxegwana said: “We are not discussing names. We don’t have names. But we need people with qualifications that are relevant. People with legal expertise and people with knowldge of human resources. This is a space where issues of governance are very critical. Those are things that messed up the SABC.”
Maxegwana said this was a process that did not require them to advertise.
ANC MP Lerumo Kalako said an interim board process was not the same as when a permanent board was put in place.
He said the matter was urgent because the SABC was functioning without a board.
He called on parties to look for people with broadcasting experience who understand the Broadcasting Act to “avoid problems that happened in the previous boards”.
DA MP James Selfe agreed with Kalako and other MPs on the criteria. “We need to think about fit and proper people to serve on the board.”
He said that action taken by the executive without a board may be illegal.
“I urge this committee to proceed with appointment as rapidly as possible‚” said Selfe.
EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu agreed that the committee must appoint an interim board “as soon as possible”.
Meanwhile‚ if all of the proposed recommendations made by a parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating the SABC are adopted‚ the interim board will have to hit the ground running.
MPs on that committee have suggested that the interim board look into claims that non-executive board members on the now defunct board were given perks like offices at the SABC and cars.
MPs in rush to fill SABC board
MPs are urgently looking for five qualified “fit and proper” candidates to run the SABC and be part of its interim board for the next six months.
Those who apply must have an understanding of broadcasting and the legislation governing it.
Parliament’s communications portfolio committee met on Tuesday for the first time in 2017 to discuss the appointment process of a new SABC interim board.
Parliament could have the names of preferred candidates by the end of the week. They will be sent on to the National Assembly for confirmation and finally to President Jacob Zuma.
The interim board will have its work cut out stabilising the embattled public broadcaster.
Communications portfolio committee chair Humphrey Maxegwana said: “We are not discussing names. We don’t have names. But we need people with qualifications that are relevant. People with legal expertise and people with knowldge of human resources. This is a space where issues of governance are very critical. Those are things that messed up the SABC.”
Maxegwana said this was a process that did not require them to advertise.
ANC MP Lerumo Kalako said an interim board process was not the same as when a permanent board was put in place.
He said the matter was urgent because the SABC was functioning without a board.
He called on parties to look for people with broadcasting experience who understand the Broadcasting Act to “avoid problems that happened in the previous boards”.
DA MP James Selfe agreed with Kalako and other MPs on the criteria. “We need to think about fit and proper people to serve on the board.”
He said that action taken by the executive without a board may be illegal.
“I urge this committee to proceed with appointment as rapidly as possible‚” said Selfe.
EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu agreed that the committee must appoint an interim board “as soon as possible”.
Meanwhile‚ if all of the proposed recommendations made by a parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating the SABC are adopted‚ the interim board will have to hit the ground running.
MPs on that committee have suggested that the interim board look into claims that non-executive board members on the now defunct board were given perks like offices at the SABC and cars.
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