Hon Speaker, today the IFP joins so many as we mourn the loss of a great young South African, Mandy Roussouw. As a young journalist she had already achieved great heights in her career. She was a young woman with integrity, passion and commitment not only to the fourth estate, but to the nation and our democracy at large. We mourn her loss and honour her legacy.
Meanwhile another heartbreak plays itself out within the media industry - that of the prolonged crisis at the SABC. Within the SABC too, there are many committed and passionate South Africans who are the heartbeat of that organisation, and also tirelessly working to make a difference. They deserve a stable organisation to work at. South Africans deserve a stable SABC they can be proud of. Not an SABC that is routinely labelled as a national embarrassment and a sinking ship, stranded in a sea of incompetence. Therefore, we note those who stepped aside from the board yesterday, and hope that the remainder of the board will stay and recommit their resolve towards building a stable and strong SABC.
The SABC now needs a board and management dedicated exclusively to rebuilding the organisation. We need leadership that will prioritise the creation of an SABC we can respect. If not, the SABC will move beyond redemption. South Africans will no longer believe that paying their TV licences is the right thing to do. This requires dramatic, fast-moving, and bold leadership on the part of Minister Dina Pule. I thank you. [Applause.]