Mnr die Speaker, die regering kan gerus selfondersoek doen oor die benarde, terminale toestand van die SAUK. Terloops, baie geluk, SAUK, met die 75ste verjaardag. Jammer dat julle dit in die intensiewe sorgeenheid moes vier.
Die personeel se moed is gebreek, omdat die bestuur van die SAUK die organisasie ondergrawe. Die personeel is egter ook die belangrikste bate van die uitsaaier. Hulle moet gekoester, omarm en mooi na gekyk word. Indien die werkers knak, is alles verby.
Die regerende party moet homself afvra hoekom die finansies van die SAUK 'n sinkende skuitjie in die oseaan is. Die finansile situasie is erger as beroerd.
Sedert 1994 was daar al tien direkteurs-generaal, DG's, of hoof uitvoerende beamptes. Die SAUK-raadslede het met 'n eentonige relmaat gekom en gegaan. Voorsitters het verskyn en net so vinnig weer verdwyn. Dis nie snaaks dat daar al weer 'n vakature op die raad is nie.
Dit is waar dat die Parlement raadslede aanbeveel vir goedkeuring deur die President, maar wie het altyd die laaste s oor wie die SAUK beheer? Die ANC besluit wie op die raad dien en wie die hoof uitvoerende beampte is. In wese besluit die ANC dus hoe die SAUK bestuur moet word. Wie is dus verantwoordelik vir die swak besluite? Wie kan onderliggend, in wese, nie bestuur nie?
Daar is briljante mense in ons land wat die SAUK en die land met graagte sou wil dien, maar hulle is dalk nie gedienstige Neelsie genoeg na die regering se sin nie. Dalk is dit tot die regering se voordeel dat die SAUK as openbare uitsaaier uiteindelik sink. Dan kan die staat behoorlik finansieel ingryp, die finansieringsmodel hervorm en, siedaar, die SAUK is nou ten volle 'n staatsuitsaaier wat na die belange van die staat omsien en nie die mense nie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans member's statement follows.)
[Mr N J VAN DEN BERG (DA): Hon Speaker, the government should undoubtedly do some introspection regarding the critical, terminal condition of the SABC. By the way, congratulations on the SABC's 75th birthday. It is rather a pity that they have to celebrate the occasion in the intensive care unit.
The staff feel demoralised due to the fact that the management of the SABC has undermined the organisation. However, the staff also constitute the most important asset of the SABC. They ought to be cherished, embraced, and well looked after. If the workforce falls apart, everything is lost.
The ruling party should ask themselves the question why the financial state of the SABC is tantamount to a sinking ship in the ocean. The financial situation is worse than rotten.
Thus far there has been 10 directors-general, DGs, or chief executive officers since 1994. The SABC board members have come and gone with monotonous regularity. Chairpersons have appeared and disappeared again just as fast. It is therefore not out of the ordinary to have a vacancy on the board once more.
It is true that Parliament recommends members for approval by the President, but who has the last say about who should be in control of the SABC? The ANC decides who serves on the board and who the chief executive officer will be. In essence, it is the ANC that determines how the SABC should be run. Who is thus responsible for the poor decision-making? Underlying this fact, who then in essence is incapable of managing?
There are brilliant people in our country who would be keen to serve the SABC and the country, but they may not be subservient enough to serve as lackeys, in the government's opinion. Maybe it is to the government's advantage that the SABC, as a public broadcaster, eventually founders. Then the state could make a proper financial intervention, reform the funding model, and, lo and behold, the SABC could be a fully fledged public broadcaster protecting the interests of the state and not the people. [Applause.]]