Grilling expected at SABC meeting
THE main purpose of the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications meeting today will be oversight of the SABC’s budget and strategy.
Yet the public broadcaster’s executive team may face tough questions over its board, and more allegations of biased reporting and poor management.
Communications portfolio committee chairman Ismael Vadi said on Friday the meeting with the SABC, to be presented by CEO Dali Mpofu, was “routine” with the aim of discussing financial budgets and strategy.
Vadi said the possibility of increased funding for the public broadcaster might be discussed.
African National Congress (ANC) policy was to increase SABC funding over time, with a resolution at the ANC’s December conference in Polokwane that state funding should rise to a minimum of 60% from only about 2% at present.
There is simmering discontent in the ANC on the composition of the board the party itself installed post-Polokwane.
“It’s a briefing on the SABC budget, but it is unlikely the contentious issues (about) the SABC will not come up, perhaps during the question time,” said Democratic Alliance media spokesman Dene Smuts.
Inkatha Freedom Party media spokesman Suzanne Vos said selection of the SABC board “is always a contentious issue” and the only reason the extent of ANC influence on the board had become common knowledge recently was because it was a politically divided organisation.
“Now, post-Polokwane, the very MPs who voted for the SABC board are calling for its resignation, or at least the removal of the persons now serving as members they didn’t want in the first place,” said Vos.
According to media reports, certain board members were allegedly appointed because of support for President Thabo Mbeki despite the fact they were not qualified for the position.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has threatened to take the SABC to court, as its board is allegedly not constituted correctly.
A threat of legal action would not be withdrawn without some indication from Parliament over board alteration, Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said.
The SABC declined comment at the time of going to press.
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