7 July 2009
The SACP strongly condemns the decision to appoint the newly interim SABC Board. As we said before this is a board that has no broader working class and civil society representation, thus flouting the very Broadcasting Act it is supposedly serving under. They must be a broad consultation within the alliance structures including the consultation with the portfolio committee. We are particularly disturbed at this unilateral decision taken by those who do not have the interest of majority of our people at their heard.
It is very unfortunate that this board will in the eyes of many of our people be an illegitimate board, which is being foisted on us based on personal interest of those who took this unilateral feat. This annoyance was made by an unmandated people who think they are the best than anyone else in the alliance. It is precisely such behaviour that led to the ousting of many of these leaders at the ANC conference in Polokwane.
As the SACP we wish to reiterate our belief in a strong, and predominantly state funded but independent public broadcaster. It is for this reason that we are expressing our displeasure at the appointment of this interim board.
We call for an immediate rejection of this interim SABC board for the process to revert back to parliament so that we can have a truly representative board with well balanced race and class balanced. The SACP will further raise this matter very strongly in the alliance.
Issued by the SACP.
Contact Details:
Matankana Mothapo
Media Liaison Officer of the South African Communist Party [Cosatu House]
Cell no: 0729088565
Tell no: 011 339 3621