Parliament left to deal with SABC

Communications Minister Faith Muthambi failed to pitch up for a meeting with the ANC leadership over the deepening crisis while the party's national working committee spoke out against censorship on Tuesday.

Parliament only resumes its business on August 16.

This is unfolding against the backdrop of court battles against SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the minister. The DA has submitted papers to the Supreme Court of Appeal arguing against Motsoeneng and Muthambi being granted leave to appeal a high court judgment setting aside his appointment. The Save Our SABC (SOS) Coalition is also challenging a memorandum of incorporation which gives Muthambi powers to appoint and remove board members, but the matter is only likely to be heard in October.

In the interim, Motsoeneng's editorial decisions, disciplinary action against senior journalists opposed to the SABC's ban on violent protests and other questionable decisions will remain.

Nongovernmental organisations and opposition parties have warned that this state of play could jeopardise the election itself.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said there was a "shareholder ministry" in charge of the SABC - referring to Muthambi's department - as well as a committee in Parliament that dealt with it.

"If a public institution thinks it is a bull in a China shop that can break everything and think that it is doing the right thing, I think someone must whisper in the ear of the leadership in the SABC to appreciate that they can't be a bull in the China shop," he told journalists at a media briefing in Johannesburg.

Mantashe also warned the SABC to be careful of defying the orders of a Chapter Nine institution after Motsoeneng said he would approach the courts to "review" a decision of the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa).

Icasa on Monday ordered the public broadcaster to withdraw its ban on violent protests.

Icasa acting chairman Rubben Mohlaloga on Tuesday said if the SABC was to take the matter up on review, it would first have to apply for an interdict against the regulator's decision.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said the party had twice written to the speaker to call an emergency sitting of the portfolio committee on communications.

Council for the Advancement of the Constitution executive secretary Lawson Naidoo said they had also made a similar request.

Naidoo said the failure by the broadcaster to make sure its coverage of news and election-related matters met constitutional requirements could result in a challenge to the outcome of the polls.

SOS expressed cynicism about Parliament's ability to bring the minister and the SABC board into line.

National co-ordinator Sekoetlane Phamodi described the portfolio committee, as well as the ANC parliamentary caucus, as "delinquent".

"All they are interested in is political point-scoring and harassing opposition parties," he said.

He hoped party parliamentary chief whip Jackson Mthembu, who came out strongly against the shenanigans at the SABC, would "whip them into line".

Source: Business Day