National Assembly to debate SABC crisis on May 22

Sithole says the SABC board lacks the ability to lead the public broadcaster

The National Assembly will debate a motion of no-confidence in the SABC board on the 22nd of May. This is the decision of the ANC parliamentary caucus following its meeting in Cape Town today.

This comes after the suspension of GCEO Dali Mpofu and News and Current Affairs head Snuki Zikalala. Both have been accused of serious misconduct.

Speaking for the first time since his appointment as acting GCEO, Gab Mampone said it was business as usual. "All is not lost. This was probably just a test of character for the management and the board. It happens anywhere in the world but what we need now is to rejoin and regroup."

Government says it will not intervene in the dispute between the SABC board and its executive management.

A board member has called for an unbiased public broadcaster. "What the SABC must therefore do in executing its public mandate as the public broadcaster is to have credibility, to be non-partisan, to report in a fair manner and afford all political parties space to (air) their views," says board member Bheki Khumalo.

The motion of no-confidence was earlier passed by the Portfolio Committee on Communications.
If it is put to the vote, the ANC majority could push it through. It is then up to President Thabo Mbeki to make a final call on whether to dissolve the board or not.