Linda Ensor
2 July 2009
Cape Town — Opposition political parties claimed yesterday that interference by the African National Congress (ANC) was one of the reasons for the deep crisis at the SABC.
They were speaking in a National Assembly debate on a resolution by the communications committee for the SABC board to be dissolved and for an interim board to be nominated as soon as possible.
Only the DA objected to the motion -- on the technical ground that it had not seen a final written version of it beforehand.
The resolution flowed from an inquiry by the committee in terms of section 15A of the Broadcasting Act as to whether the board could continue to perform its fiduciary duties. All but one board member resigned.
Opposition parties called for the interim board to be politically independent. DA communications spokesman Niekie van den Berg said the SABC's problems were of long standing. If the ANC had the political will it could have done a lot more, months ago.
If the ANC dominated the new board it would be "the beginning of the end of media freedom and objective news coverage. If this government does not appoint a credible, competent and independent board, our national broadcaster will lose the last remnants of public acceptability," Van den Berg said.
However, ANC committee chairman Ismail Vadi said the quintessential problem of the "dreadful debacle" at the SABC was a "meltdown in corporate governance".
The committee has asked auditor- general Terence Nombembe to investigate allegations of corruption and other irregularities at the SABC.
DA MP Lindiwe Mazibuko argued that the dissolution of the board achieved the ANC objective to replace it with a more palatable one "sympathetic to and perhaps more willing to dance to the tune of the new masters of Luthuli House". The SABC's problems stemmed from massive procurement and spending irregularities at executive management level.
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille called for a forensic audit in addition to an auditor-general investigation. United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa stressed that merely replacing the board would not solve the crisis at the SABC "as long as the architects of the mess remain behind" in management. He called for an end to "this looting spree". The Inkatha Freedom Party called for a judicial inquiry.
Congress of the People leader Mbhazima Shilowa accused the ANC of "colluding with certain elements in the SABC management and turning a blind eye on the many serious financial challenges and irregularities the corporation faced.
"Even if only 10% of the alleged irregularities tabled in the committee is true, several senior managers should be charged and prosecuted, and if found guilty serve time if we are serious about implementing the (Public Finance Management Act).
"We call (for) a full investigation of the SABC executives and their role in embezzling the public funds.
"We call on the ANC to return the money they received (from the SABC) in the form of T-shirts."
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