New Sabc board nominated, DA cries foul
Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications released on Tuesday the names of 12 people recommended to President Jacob Zuma for appointment to the SABC board.
The list includes the current interim chairwoman of the board, Ellen Tshabalala, her deputy Noluthando Gosa and a past member of the broadcaster’s board, Vusumuzi Mavuso.
The others are Ronnie Lubisi, Thembinkosi Bonakele, Rachel Kalidass, Nomvuyo Mhlakaza, Bongani Khumalo, Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe, Krish Naidoo, Aaron Tshidzumba and Hope Zinde.
Parliament dissolved the SABC board earlier this year after infighting prompted all but one member to resign.
It interviewed 36 candidates for the new board and had little time left to finalise the nomination process, as the tenure of the interim board ends this month.
In response to the nominations, the Democratic Alliance released a statement crying foul – saying that the ANC parliament chose its “cronies” rather than competent people to fill the positions.
Democratic Alliance press statement – SABC Board: ANC in Parliament chooses cronies above competence
By Marian Shinn MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications
17 September 2013
Today, Parliament was presented with the opportunity to select a new board to steer the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) into calm waters.
Instead, ANC members of the Portfolio Committee on Communications chose to select candidates on the basis of party political loyalties and not proficiency for the task at hand.
The 12 board members proposed and accepted by the ANC in Parliament today, were rejected by the DA and other political parties on the grounds that:
- The proposed board deviated from the draft agreed upon by the committee task team last week;
- The ANC was not prepared to negotiate on today’s proposed board; and
- The ANC today chose to ignore the exceptional talent and capacity in candidates proposed and opted to reward party loyalty in the redeployment of cadres.
The DA will oppose the ANC in Parliament’s list of SABC board candidates when it is tabled for a vote on Thursday.
The SABC has sadly continued on its downward spiral as confirmed by its dreadful audit outcomes for the 2012/13 financial year.
It is disappointing that the ANC in Parliament refused to select a capable and effective board to fix it.
(Reporting by Sapa)
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