Cosatu criticises SABC short list
THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) yesterday condemned the final short list of candidates for the SABC board that has been submitted to the president by the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications.
The federation has also demanded a meeting of the tripartite alliance to discuss the matter before President Thabo Mbeki makes his decision.
The fight over the new SABC board comes amid a fierce battle for control of the airwaves, which has taken on a particular urgency because of the African National Congress presidential succession fracas. Cosatu and the South African Communist Party maintain that the SABC’s political coverage favours Mbeki.
In a strongly worded statement, the federation said the names flew in the face of the Broadcasting Act, which stipulates that board members must be “persons who are suited to serve on the board by virtue of their qualifications” and “their commitment to freedom of expression”.
Cosatu also slammed the absence of figures from the labour movement, saying the names put forward contravened the obligation to include people with expertise and experience in social and labour issues. Instead, the list reflected a “preponderance” of black empowerment business figures.
Loading ...