SACP National Treasurer Joyce Moloi-Moropa stepped down from her position in February.
SACP members protest outside the SABC’s Sea Point offices on 20 July 2016. Picture: Rahima Essop/EWN.
Rahima Essop | about 4 hours ago
CAPE TOWN – The South African Communist Party (SACP) says the withdrawal of its National Treasurer, Joyce Moloi-Moropa, from Parliament was the "highest form of political protest" in the fallout over the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
Speaking on the sidelines of an SACP protest at the public broadcaster’s Sea Point offices today, SACP Second Deputy General Secretary Solly Mapaila was candid about Moloi-Moropa’s reasons for resigning as an African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament (MP) earlier this year.
Moloi-Moropa, who is the former chairperson of the parliamentary committee responsible for oversight of the SABC, stepped down from her position in February.
Her decision followed reports that she found herself caught in the crossfire between ANC MPs loyal to Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and party policy.
Last year, ANC members of the Portfolio Committee on Communications made a sudden U-turn on legal advice that the removal of three SABC board members was a violation of the Broadcasting Act.
Moloi-Moropa steered the committee through stormy waters when it had to deal with getting rid of former SABC board chairperson Ellen Tshabalala, who was found to have lied about her qualifications.
Mapaila says her withdrawal was a form of political protest from within the tripartite alliance.
"It was a political decision because she could not stand to implement in Parliament decisions that were effectively against the ANC, her own party, because she is a member of the national executive committee."
He says both Moloi-Moropa and the SACP’s leadership decided it was the right decision.
"A matter was decided and debated in the political bureau."
When Moloi-Moropa resigned in February, the ANC in Parliament said she did so in order to focus on her work at the SACP.
(Edited by Winnie Theletsane)