Parliamentary ad hoc committee to conduct inquiry into SABC board

3 November 2016 

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip welcomes the decision by the National Assembly to establish an ad hoc committee to conduct an inquiry into the fitness of the SABC Board to hold office. The inquiry was initially to be conducted by the portfolio committee on communications. However, in order to ensure full adherence to the principles of natural justice, which entail fairness and objectivity, parliament correctly opted that a special mechanism as provided for in the House rules be created to undertake this crucial task. 

The ad hoc committee will, in terms of section 15A(1)(b) of the Broadcasting Act, inquire into the ability of the SABC Board to discharge its duties as prescribed in the Act, including:

a) Looking into the financial status and sustainability of the SABC;

b) The response by the SABC to the Public Protector Report: When Governance and Ethics Fail, recent court judgments, and the ruling by the ICASA that the SABC withdraws its decision to ban coverage of violent protests at the broadcaster;

c) The current Board’s ability to take legally binding decisions in light of the resignation by some non-executive members of the Board;

d) The Board’s adherence to the Broadcasting Charter;

e) The Board’s ability to carry out its duties as contemplated in section 13(11) of the Broadcasting Act

f) Human resources related matters such as governance structures, appointments of Executives and termination of services of the affected executives; and

g) The decision making processes of the Board

The ad hoc committee, as provided for in the rules of the House, will consist of 11 members drawn from various parties and must report back to the National Assembly by no later than 28 February 2017.

The ANC has recommended the following MPs to Parliament to form part of the ad hoc committee:

1.       Cde Vincent George Smith

2.       Cde Jabulani Lukas Mahlangu

3.       Cde Makhosi Busisiwe Khoza

4.       Cde Hlamane Patrick Chauke

5.       Cde Fezeka Sister Loliwe

6.       Cde Juliana Danielle Kilian

Cde Vincent Smith will be recommended for election as the chairperson of the ad hoc committee. 

The prevailing challenges facing the public broadcaster are of serious nature and we applaud Parliament for ensuring due diligence and reasonable care in getting to the bottom of the problems and resolving them. The Office of the ANC Chief Whip wishes the ad hoc committee well in its task.

Issued by Moloto Mathapo on behalf of the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, 3 November 2016