Statement on the recommendations of the appointments for the SABC Board

12 September 2007

The SACP has learnt of the proposed appointments for the new SABC Board. We would like to congratulate the portfolio committee for concluding its task of short-listing process and making recommendations.

It is sad however that in concluding its task, the committee has not only erred in so far as not meeting the stipulation of Section 4a and c of the Broadcasting Act, but has violated the letter and spirit of this Act, which stipulates, inter alia, as follows:

"The members of the Board must, when viewed collectively:

• be persons who are suited to serve on the Board by virtue of their qualifications, expertise and experience in the fields of broadcasting policy and technology, broadcasting regulation, media law, frequency planning, business practice and finance, marketing, journalism, entertainment and education, social and labour issues;
• represent a broad cross-section of the population of the Republic; "

The proposed names represents a growing trend of exclusion of the working class sections of our community to play any significant role in the affairs of the public entities with the black petty bourgeoisie being left alone to run the affairs of our public entities. Surely the interest of capital will come first in this instance.

The majority of the proposed board members are business people. We cannot continue to define the “broad cross-section” in our country void of class realities that exist in our country.

As the SACP we are deeply disgusted by the exclusion of role players from labour and the broader working class. We unfortunately have difficulties in accepting a board without working class representation.

We will raise this matter very sharply in the Alliance.

Issued by the SACP.

Contact:

Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson – 082 226 1802