The Inkatha Freedom Party has
made it clear that it will not support this Bill for many reasons
including:
We believe this Bill will
prove to be an enabling factor for direct political interference
into the governance of the SABC and is an assault on the
independence of the board of the public broadcaster;
We question the
constitutionality of the attempt to fudge the separation of powers
between the executive and our legislature, by making the "appointing
body" of the SABC board "the President in consultation with the
Speaker of the National Assembly";
The proposition that an
entire board of the SABC can be removed not by "due enquiry" but
merely after a "finding" of a committee of the National Assembly is,
quite simply, outrageous. Not once since 1994 has this ever been on
the agenda of the Portfolio Committee on Communications but
suddenly, after Polokwane, the issue has become one of extreme
urgency. It is a patently obvious intra party-political manoeuvre
and in so doing this Hon. House is being used as a tool for the
political machinations of the new post-Polokwane ruling clique of
the ANC.
The IFP will vote against
this Bill and is considering petitioning the President of the
Republic not to sign this Bill into law once it is passed by
Parliament. We cannot and will not support bad law. This Bill is
bad law.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Ms S Vos MP: 083 303 0451