Carrim must explain SABC's authority to jump the gun on Cabinet decision

Communications Minister Yunus Carrim must explain how the South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC's) Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO), Hlaudi Motsoeneng, has announced the public broadcaster's decision to abandon the need for an access control system on the set-top boxes (STBs), before Cabinet has decided on the matter.

It is unacceptable that a public servant can unilaterally decide on government policy - and expose the SABC to potentially damaging legal challenges - before Cabinet has decided on the matter.

Minister Carrim told media last week that he would soon present to Cabinet his department's recommendations on the digital migration policy review started by his predecessor. Part of this review was to determine the need for an access control system on the set-top boxes which is needed to view its programmes once digital broadcasting is switched on.

In July Acting COO Motsoeneng signed a deal with MultiChoice that included a clause stating that, should SABC's free-to-air channels be made available on the SABC DTT platforms on an encrypted basis, MultiChoice could cancel the R553 million due to SABC for airing its 24-hour news and entertainment channels on its platform.

This deal was signed while the Department of Communications' policy review was in progress and Minister Carrim has recently again confirmed that the digital migration policy was still being reviewed. 

Requests to the Portfolio Committee on Communications' Chairperson, Eric Kholwane, that the Minister explain how the SABC could make such a deal and whether the process of negotiating it was legal, has had no formal response. 

The DA will push for answers from Minister Carrim who is due before the Portfolio Committee on Tuesday to discuss the progress with the priorities he set himself on taking office.

Minister Carrim must explain how this situation has evolved and the financial and reputational risks that the government is now exposed to. The Minister must also account for the credibility blow this has delivered to the government's strategy to boost the electronics industry's capabilities through producing STBs with access control systems.

We need to know whether Mr Motsoeneng runs the Cabinet as well as the SABC, and whether Cabinet is contemplating any action against him.

Statement issued by Marian Shinn MP. DA Shadow Minister of Communications, November 3 2013

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