Juli Killian, a member of parliament (MP) for Congress of the People (COPE), has accused Dina Pule, communications minister, of contributing to the problems currently plaguing the South African Broadcasting Commission (SABC).
HumanIPO reported yesterday the SABC board is likely to be dissolved and replaced by a five member board in the interim.
This follows the six resignations over the weekend as well as the resignations by Ben Ngubane, board chairman and his deputy Thami ka Plaatjie.
“The mere fact that the committee was not willing to intervene earlier and ensure we correct the serious corporate governance transgressions is making all of us guilty of dereliction of duty,” said Killian yesterday following a news briefing by Sikhumbuzo Kholwane, SABC committee chairman.
The remaining board members are Suzanne Vos and Claire O’Neil. According to the City Press, Kholwane confirmed the resignation of Pippa Green this morning.
Pule is expected to meet with and brief the committee regarding the matter today. The committee will have to decide on whether to begin a process, which will fill the nine vacancies over two or three months, or to dissolve the board completely.
However, any recommendation of five names for an interim board, which will be followed by a recommendation to National Assembly, must be done today, due to the next available house sitting for the recommendation will be in mid-April.
“There is no time for dilly-dallying… If an interim board will have to come in, we will have to end the issue of the interim board and present the issue to Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday) and then we are done with the issue,” said Kholwane, who did not dismiss the possibility of the return of the resigned board members to form part of the interim board.
Killian, however, believes the dissolution of the board as well as the establishment of an interim board cannot be achieved in a matter of hours.
“To move towards and thereafter immediately into appointment of an interim board is going to be virtually impossible to achieve.”
