Public comment invited on Broadcasting Act amendments

The purpose of the bill is to provide for the removal of a member of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) by the appointing body on the recommendation of Parliament's National Assembly.

The bill will also look at the dissolution of the SABC Board.

In terms of the objectives of the proposed legislation, the Broadcasting Act does not provide a mechanism whereby the SABC board may be dissolved if it is unable to perform its functions.

The act only provides for the removal of individual members of the board upon the recommendation of the board itself.

According to the submission of legislative proposal, the amendment would ensure that due process is followed when there is a need for the board, as a whole, to be dissolved.

It will further provide for the responsibilities of the board to the executed by an interim board until the appointment of a new board.

Currently the suspended Group CEO of the SABC, Dali Mpofu, is challenging his suspension in the Johannesburg High Court. He has called on President Thabo Mbeki to fire the SABC board.

Public hearings are expected to be conducted in Parliament on 5 and 6 August 2008.

Submissions can be emailed to the Committee Secretaries: Rita Schaafsma at or Noluthando Skaka at by no later than 12 noon, Friday 25 July 2008.

Those interested are requested to indicate their interest in making a verbal presentation.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews

For more:

• IOL: Mpofu case to continue
  
• IOL: Judge urges formal SABC hearing
  
• IOL: SABC employees withdraw application
  
• IOL: Zikalala's suspension lifted