Chairperson, the ID believes that it is completely unacceptable that the SABC has become mired in controversy due to the ANC's infighting. This mess goes against our public broadcaster's constitutional mandate by our people.
What is being forgotten in this crisis is the effect it is having on our journalists; they are the victims because they are the ones who take their duty to South Africans seriously. They can no longer show their accreditation with pride. The SABC has already lost so many brilliant journalists to other media companies, and we simply cannot afford to lose any more.
Because the Portfolio Committee on Communications does not have the power to remove the existing board, the ID fails to see what we can gain from this process except the continuation of the destructive stalemates. Unless the President acts, and the ID doubts that he will, we are stuck with this board. It would therefore be far better to try and find an amicable solution with all parties concerned. Surely this is a better option than fanning the flames of political division to the detriment of news and journalists alike.
The ID pleads with all of you to help remove the politics from the SABC for once and for all and that in future any appointment to the board or top management not be based on political affiliations. Only in this way can the public and the SABC journalists be assured that party-political commissars like Snuki Zikalala will not tamper with the information that is beamed into our homes.
The ID will therefore not support this report, and calls upon the committee to play a constructive role in resolving this mess. Thank you.