Interim SABC board proposed

2009-07-02 16:42

Cape Town - A five member interim board for the SABC was proposed by Parliament's portfolio committee on communications on Thursday.

The board, which includes former MTN executive Irene Charnley, Unisa academic Phillip Mtimkulu, media expert Libby Lloyd, advocate Leslie Sedibe and former communications committee member Suzanne Vos, would have to be approved first by the National Assembly and then by President Jacob Zuma.

Charnley was proposed as board chairwoman and Mtimkulu as her deputy.

The board members would serve a six-month term. A permanent board would have to be selected by the committee within that time.

Opposition political parties, the Democratic Alliance, the Independent Democrats and the Congress of the People had initially supported Charnley, Lloyd, Sedibe and Vos.

They withdrew their support for the entire board after the ANC refused to drop Mtimkulu's name.

Consulted principals

ANC committee member Eric Kholwane said the party would continue to work to achieve consensus.
He told the committee the party had not wanted to drop Mtimkulu, because it did not want to demotivate anyone. Mtimkulu's services might be required for the permanent board.

"We consulted our principals and they feel strongly that we should carry Dr Phillip Mtimkulu," Kholwane said.

"We did not want people are politically active in the ANC and so on. Mr Kholwane is not politically active. [He is] only in political science as an academic."

Inkatha Freedom Party committee member Musa Zondi had nominated Vos and approved the ANC's four other choices.

The DA had wanted academic Mamphele Ramphele included on the board.

"We withdraw our support for the board, we are not saying anything about the integrity of its members," DA committee member Niekie Van der Walt said.

"We wish them well. I've got doubts that in six months the SABC will be in a better position."

Consensus not reached

Cope committee member Julie Killian said she did not believe the discussion was held in good faith.

"We will not be able to support the board as a collective because the position was not reached with consensus."

ID leader Patricia De Lille, a member of the committee, said she was disappointed that consensus had not been reached.

"If this is an example of what consensus is, then what will happen when we select the permanent board?

"We are going to sit for days on end and interview people. In the end your voice will not be heard.
"Unfortunately an opportunity has been missed."

Board will serve for about 4 months

The National Assembly will vote on the interim board on July 7.

Committee chair Ismail Vadi said the board would end up serving for a very short term.

"If we want to put a permanent board in place we will have to be done by the time Parliament adjourns in November.

"That means board will serve a term of about 3.5 to four months."

Advertisements for a permanent 12-member board would be sent out within the next two weeks. The committee would start interviewing applicants shortly after.

 

- SAPA