Following an SABC media briefing at Auckland Park a short while ago, the IFP is again gravely concerned and disappointed by the lack of leadership shown by the SABC Board.
Instead of taking responsibility for the crisis at the SABC, the Chairperson of the Board, Professor Maguvhe, used this opportunity to reinstate Mr Hlaudi Motsoeneng to his previous position as Group Executive of Corporate Affairs. This after millions of taxpayers’ Rands were wasted in trying to keep Mr Motsoeneng in the positon of COO, which the courts have now found to be unlawful.
Any senior position for Mr Motsoeneng at this point goes against the spirit and letter of the law. The IFP believes that the Board must now be held personally liable for the cost of defending Mr Motsoeneng in court, and also for the recent bonus he received.
Today’s decision goes against the wishes of concerned citizens and most political parties, including the ruling party. The IFP therefore believes that the current Board must be dissolved by Parliament and a new process must be embarked on to find a suitable Board.
It is clear that the current Board is politically compromised and is run by a faction of the ANC, led by Minister Muthambi, who is hellbent on destroying the public broadcaster’s image and credibility. This explains why the Board continues to act in a manner which brings the SABC into disrepute.
This Board was politically compromised from the start, which is why these are not independent people, able to make independent decisions. There has been no leadership to rescue the public broadcaster from its current financial and leadership crisis.
The IFP condemns the repeated attempts by the Chairperson of the Board to blame opposition parties and the media for the current instability at the SABC. We also condemn comments by the Acting CEO, Mr James Aguma, that political parties must not interfere in the running of the public broadcaster.
This is a clear indication that the SABC leadership does not regard ordinary citizens as its stakeholders and, as such, ordinary citizens should not be expected to pay TV licences. Until the SABC is stable, the IFP will continue to call on its rank and file to desist from paying their TV licences.
This is not about Hlaudi Motsoeneng. It’s about the rule of law, stability at the public broadcaster, and doing what is right. Clearly this Board is unfit to do what is in the public interests.
CONTACT:
Ms Liezl van der Merwe MP
IFP Spokesperson on Communications
082 729 2510