One-man SABC Board fails to silence parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee

The DA welcomes Judge Siraj Desai's ruling in the Western Cape High court this evening that Prof Mbulaheni Maguvhe’s application to interdict the work of the Ad Hoc Committee has been dismissed with costs to be paid by Maguvhe in is personal capacity.

This interdict by Maguvhe, as the last standing member of the SABC board, was a last ditch attempt by one man seeking to cling to power for his own sake and to avoid accountability for his complicity in allowing the national broadcaster to degenerate to such an abysmal state.

The DA opposed the interdict against members of the SABC Ad Hoc Committee, including myself, from participating in the inquiry.

The ruling this evening means that Parliament's SABC inquiry Ad Hoc Committee can begin its work next week.

This is a victory for parliamentary accountability and an important step towards restoring Parliament's role as the constitutionally established body to scrutinise and oversee the actions of the executive.

The DA is pleased that the inquiry will now be allowed to go ahead as it is vital that the integrity of the national broadcaster is restored urgently, which is what Parliament is seeking to do through the Ad Hoc Committee. We look forward to participating in it.

Statement issued by Phumzile Van Damme MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, 2 December 2016