Reject SABC board - Cosatu

2009-07-06 21:08

Cape Town - The Congress of SA Trade Unions called on Monday for the rejection of the new SABC interim board.

"The Congress of South African Trade Unions is disturbed at the composition of the new SABC interim board and the manner in which it was appointed, and calls for it to be rejected," the federation said in a statement.

"There was virtually no consultation with civil society, or even the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, before the five names of the Interim Board were announced."

Acting president Kgalema Motlanthe signed the presidential minute officially dissolving the SABC board last Friday.

This came after the National Assembly's communications committee finalised the list of names for the five-member interim board to be recommended for appointment by Zuma.

These named include former MTN executive Irene Charnley, Unisa academic Phillip Mtimkulu, media expert Libby Lloyd, advocate Leslie Sedibe and former communications committee member Suzanne Vos.

The National Assembly is expected to approve the list on Tuesday.

R839m loss

The SABC made an R839m loss in the 2008/09 financial year.

Cosatu said the names which it proposed were excluded with no reasons given.

It said the board was "yet again" dominated by business people, with nobody representing civil society, including the labour movement.

"We are particularly angry that it is so completely unbalanced in terms of both race and class," Cosatu said.

"Cosatu urges the government to reverse its decision and appoint a board which better reflects the interests and views of the majority of South Africans."

More than half of the SABC work force is expected to hold a strike over a wage dispute on Wednesday. The strike is being led by members of the Media Workers Association of SA, and the Communication Workers Union.

- SAPA