Chairperson, the first object of the Bill is, of course, to allow for the Speaker to assist with appointing the SABC board. This should not have been a consideration worthy of the time spent on the matter in the portfolio committee. From the outset, the content of the Bill was unconstitutional and undemocratic. The portfolio committee should have then made a decision in principle not to consider the Bill.
The NCOP in having considered the Bill has come to the conclusion that it will be inappropriate of the executive to be directly involved with the selection of the SABC board. The amendments to the Bill by the NCOP reverse the one adopted by the NA and recommends that the powers of the executive will be limited with regard to the SABC board.
We must applaud the second Chamber for taking a stand in this regard. The FD, a member of the Christian Democratic Alliance, has always maintained that public broadcasting enterprises should not be used for purposes of political gain.
The purposes of the executive, in particular, in this regard must be subject to public scrutiny; and since the people have entrusted Parliament with that responsibility, it is our duty to exercise appropriate controls over the executives.
The elections in 2009 demand that the SABC we want is one that is committed to editorial independence and which ensures that election coverage is done without any bias towards any political party. This morning the SABC board met with political parties and promised that we can expect equitable and fair coverage of the 2009 elections. The Bill we will support will be one that informs the democratic principles of an open and transparent public broadcasting system. Anything less remains unacceptable. The FD will therefore not support the Bill.
There was no debate.