There is the Special Investigating Unit, SIU, proclamation on the SA Post Office. There is the SIU proclamation on Media Corner's contract that was secured by the department. There is also the SIU investigation into the SABC that we reported on to Parliament two weeks ago. We promised that we were going to act on that and we have done that.
We met with the SABC board last week and told them that they have to provide legal representatives. We will engage the attorneys concerned and the SIU. I have personally spoken to the SIU's head twice in the last two weeks. Yesterday, I received a report in that regard. I once again spoke to the chairperson of the board on Monday at the information, communication and technology conference, and we are acting upon those issues.
Then there is also the Public Protector's report. I indicated what we have done with regard to it many times already in the last few days. Within five minutes of receiving the report, which we received 24 hours later than we should have, we gave it to the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor. He came back to us in 72 hours, and the board met within 24 hours of the report having been given to them.
They met subsequently five days later, and four days later they met with us: the Minister and Deputy Minister, and the DG and the team from the Department of Communications. They promised that very shortly - by the end of this week or early next week - they will tell us what they are going to do about that Public Protector's report, the process thereof and which issues they think are legally tenable to pursue and the timelines for that.
Once they finished that report, we will respond and say where we agree or disagree. Can we also stress with regard to that: It is just wrong to think that I am a Minister, therefore there is no legislative basis for it or corporate governance rules or norms or provision for it. A Minister cannot actually take control of a board with regard to the transgressions of senior executives in any state-owned company. So, the call by the opposition party for the Minister to just go ahead and fire people, as some of them are doing at will, is entirely illegal.
Finally, I repeat, yesterday, we found out about something that the DG reported to us. She chaired the panel on the decision that was made with regard to the senior that was recently appointed as a manager, and we went ahead within 24 hours to act against the two personnel - the official, as I said, who knew about the case and did not inform the panel chaired by the DG and the person who, it seems, transgressed public service norms. Thank you.
Criteria applied in scoring and grading line-fishing permit applications
26. Mr M Johnson (ANC) asked the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
With regard to the protests within the fishing community in respect of line-fishing permit applications that were turned down by her department, what (a) are the criteria that her department apply to score and grade applications and (b) is the current status of the appeals process afforded to those whose current right-holder applications were turned down? NO236E
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon Deputy Speaker, the public listening campaign for the allocation process has started. A document entitled "General Reasons for the Decisions on the Allocation of Rights and Effort in the Traditional Linefish Fishery" is available on the website of the department and a copy has been sent to the hon member.
The appeals process has been extended to 30 April 2014, and a public awareness campaign will be held to inform people of the process. In the interim, extensions have been given to those who previously held rights but have not yet been given new allocations. Thank you.