Communications minister Faith Muthambi will face questions on President Jacob Zuma\u2019s appointment of Professor Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe as chairperson of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) when she appears before Parliament\u2019s Communications Portfolio Committee on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Presidency made the announcement of Maguvhe\u2019s assignment and that of Leah Khumalo as the deputy chairperson in a terse statement on Friday.<\/p>\n
While Zuma wished the pair \u201call the best in their new responsibilities\u201d\u201a the Democratic Alliance\u2019s (DA) Gavin Davis on Monday called on the president \u201cto rescind Maghuve’s appointment until legal opinion is dealt with\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaghuve was the acting chairperson of the SABC board when it removed Hope Zinde\u201a Rachel Kalidass and Ronnie Lubisi from the Board\u201a\u201d Davis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA legal opinion drafted by Parliament\u2019s legal unit has since found that the board\u2019s removal of these three members was illegal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Davis said it was \u201cirrational\u201d to appoint the chairperson while the portfolio committee is still considering the legal opinion\u201a \u201cwhich may well include legal action against Maghuve for his role in the illegal removal of these board members\u201d.<\/p>\n
When Muthambi appears before the committee on Tuesday\u201a the DA wants her \u201cto tell us why she believes the unilateral removal of three SABC board members was lawful\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Congress of the People (Cope)\u201a however\u201a took a more political tack\u201a saying Maguvhe and Khumalo \u201care poor choices indeed\u201d as \u201cLuthuli House will in effect control the SABC\u201d\u201a which will sacrifice news for \u201csunshine journalism\u201d.<\/p>\n
Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem said of the \u201cunlawful removal\u201d of Zinde\u201a Kalidas and Lubisi: \u201cTheir crime was not to take instructions from Luthuli House.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were too independent-minded for the SABC and the ruling party.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s an open secret that the new appointees are known praise singers of Muthambi and of COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.\u201d<\/p>\n
Source: RDM News Wire.<\/p>\n
SABC\u2019s Motsoeneng appeal heads to Supreme Court<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n SABC spends R3 million on a choir to praise its boss<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n