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ANC demands full SABC board
29/04/2008 16:46 - (SA)
Cape Town - The National Assembly's communications committee had to postpone its business on Tuesday because the ANC was unhappy that only some SABC board members arrived for a scheduled meeting.
The committee was supposed to be briefed by the public broadcaster on its 2008/09 budget, strategic plan and priorities, but objections were raised as soon as newly appointed SABC board chairperson Kanyisiwe Mkonza had introduced her delegation.
Those present included another board member, Andile Mbeki, CEO Dali Mpofu and CFO Robin Nicholson.
The ANC's Lumka Yengeni objected that the whole board and management team were not present and demanded they be called to join the meeting "today".
She was supported by other ANC members, including Khotso Khumalo.
Mkonza responded that it was normal practice for a delegation to brief the committee and explained that other board members and officials were in various parts of the country.
Not usual practice
Opposition parties expressed surprise at the ANC's attitude and asked that the meeting proceed, but committee chairperson Ismail Vadi adjourned the meeting for consultations.
When they returned, Suzanne Vos of the Inkatha Freedom Party said that while she was disappointed that certain board members were not present to answer questions she had for them, the meeting should nevertheless proceed because of those who were present.
The Democratic Alliance's Dene Smuts agreed it should go ahead, saying the committee should have informed the SABC ahead of time if it wanted all 12 board members and the full management team present.
She agreed it was not usual practice for the whole board and management team to attend committee meetings.
However, Khotso said the ANC expected them all to attend because there were a number of issues in the public domain they had to answer for.
These included the alleged blacklisting of political commentators, the loss of soccer broadcasting rights, the SABC's finances, the suspension of certain staff members, and the alleged differences between the board and Mpofu, and political interference.
After further discussion, Vadi eventually postponed the meeting until Wednesday to give the other board members and officials a chance to travel to Cape Town.
Postponing 'on principle'
Vadi said it was important for as many as possible of the new SABC board members to be present, and raised the possibility of making this the norm in future.
A separate meeting afterwards with the National Electronic Media Institute of SA (NEMISA) on its budget, strategic plan and priorities was also postponed when it emerged that only the management team and no board members were present.
Opposition MPs accused the ANC of insisting on this only because they wanted to try to show the SABC decision had been "on principle".
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