Thank you, Chair. Hon members, Deputy President, all protocol has now been observed. Our historical background and the fact that we fought a liberation struggle to correct the injustices that enslaved the masses of our people mean that the transformation of the public broadcaster would be contested terrain with deep-vested political and ideological interests.
This, regrettably but understandably, has seized the SABC for different periods of time. Today, whilst we are going through the process of appointing candidates, it is this background that makes this debate so significant. We are primarily concerned with the public interest. How this is defined and by whom it is defined, give rise to the contestation.
Whilst today this debate may, at face value, be a procedural exercise, the political weight that is attached to it goes beyond the mere recommendation of appointments being accepted by this House. The fact that we have struggled with the transformation processes of the SABC should come as no surprise. The shareholder in this case has a clear perspective of what is required. Yet, in order for that to be translated requires a board and a chief executive officer who share that vision and mission. If not, we get dragged into the endless tactical struggles around individuals, who wish to extend their concepts of what the SABC should be, and then apply hegemony to try to get what they want.
On this occasion, I believe we need, yet again, to state what is expected by the ANC government as a shareholder from the board, the CEO and those whom we are recommending for appointment. It may have been said before, and we know it has, but, clearly, for whatever vested interest certain people chose not to listen.
So, here it is again in the hope and belief that this time we will all be moving in the same direction, respecting the provisions of the Act that establishes the SABC and being committed to the philosophy which underpins the existence of the SABC.
In broadcasting, it would be unthinkable to rely solely on market forces to ensure the provision of services in an inclusive manner to all South Africans. Public broadcasting is directly related to the democratic, social and cultural needs of our society. This means including all South Africans in the sociopolitical developments that characterise the transition to a national democratic society.
With regard to policy instruments that give concrete expression to the fundamental right to freedom of expression, for the SABC to give expression to the fundamental right of freedom of expression, it must go beyond treating South Africans as a mere audience and market captive to its services. It must also approach South Africans as citizens who constitute a public entitled to the many rights that are enshrined in the Constitution, broadcasting and many other statutes.
Secondly, the role played by the SABC is shaped by the history and current context of the country. The SABC has the most pervasive means of communications and has a direct role to play in the establishment and consolidation of democracy, democratic values, norms and standards, and the building of a common consciousness of being South African with a shared frame of reference.
Thirdly, the SABC as a public broadcaster, owned by the South African public, has a special responsibility to ensure the presence and reflection of South Africans from a South African point of view. The SABC must advance South Africa's national and international interests and project South African values to South Africans and the rest of the world. Regarding the issue of governance, the contestation is great. Those who are going to make appointments must be reminded that theirs is the duty to ensure that the board functions according to the mandate that has been given, and not to any other undeclared mandate. Vested interests are supposed to be declared upfront, and, if not, the passage of time will reveal this and this will only lead to the weakening of the board.
Whilst we have legislation which defines the mandate of the public broadcaster, it is how this legislation is implemented that will either lead to the realisation of the spirit and intention of the legislation and the ANC government policy or not. It is important to remind those on the board and those to be appointed that policy comes first, and legislation is a reflection of policy.
If this is the case, why then do we have problems with this scenario? We have Soros-funded thinking groups who want a disguised mercantile dictatorship called "independence" against democrats who want power to rest with the people. The "Soros-ites" and the "De-Klerk-ist" constitutionalists are essentially the same.
What the ANC government requires is as follows. The board rules the corporation and not the executive. We have had this battle before and we have cleared the confusion. The board must not get involved with detailed management. This must be left to the CEO. The board must not get involved in executive functions and, worse, be paid for that.
The CEO has clearly defined functions, as does the head of news. These and others should report to the board, whether directly or indirectly. There should not be a dual power situation in the SABC. The shareholder is the ANC government ... [Interjections.] ... and this role is overseen in public by the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications. This is how the power of the people is exercised. [Interjections.] The committee vets appointments to the board and makes recommendations to the President. It continues to receive reports from the board, in public, on behalf of and as instructed by Parliament. [Interjections.]