ANC MPs are preparing the way to dislodge the embattled SABC board, writes Siyabonga Mkhwanazi in The Star.
The National Assembly on Tuesday adopted the Broadcasting Amendment Bill after making changes that were necessary to bring it in line with the constitution, after President Kgalema Motlanthe referred the bill back to lawmakers.
ANC MPs and its communications portfolio committee whip, Khotso Khumalo, told the Cape Argus yesterday the committee was now waiting for Motlanthe to sign the bill into law. It would then summons the entire board to answer charges of failing to exercise its fiduciary duties.
Khumalo said this could happen before the current Parliament is dissolved ahead of the April 22 elections.
Communications committee chairman Ishmail Vadi also slated the SABC board for its inability to address problems plaguing the public broadcaster.
Justifying the committee's intention of dissolving the board, Vadi said there was a need for Parliament to intervene "when a board of a public entity fails hopelessly in discharging its responsibility".
Addressing the National Assembly yesterday Vadi said the board had been unable to act on its legal mandate.
"It's locked into a conflict with its executive management. It's unable to provide effective corporate governance over a public entity. What must we do?," asked Vadi, adding that it was in times like these that MPs had to wield an axe.
Click here to read the full report, posted on iol.co.za.
