SABC: Committee agrees to request for parliamentary inquiry

16 August 2016

Today, members of the Portfolio Committee of Communications agreed with the DA that a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into the institutional rot at the SABC was necessary and urgent. 

This is indeed a step in the right direction towards fixing the many problems plaguing the public broadcaster.

I requested a full inquiry into the SABC in terms of Rule 227 (1) (c) of the National Assembly Rules, which gives powers to the Portfolio Committees to “monitor, investigate, enquire into and make recommendations concerning any such executive organ of the state, constitutional institution or body or institution…”

The Chairperson of the Committee, Humphrey Maxegwana, and other members of the Committee expressed support for such an inquiry, and indicated that a request would be dispatched to Parliament’s Chair of Chairs, Cedric Frolick. 

Frolick should now, without delay, give effect to the mandate of the committee. 

The DA remains committed to restoring independence and freedom of speech at the SABC, and ensuring that South Africans have access to the information and news they are constitutionally entitled to.

We look forward to participating in the inquiry. 

Issued by Phumzile Van Damme, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, 16 August 2016