Chair, hon members, I'm fortunate to have limited time because several people wasted a lot of time saying sweet nothing. [Laughter.] Hon member Mazibuko, of course, has made a very big booboo. It was a very big mistake to accuse me of appointing somebody that I didn't appoint. I urge the opposition to really make sure of their facts in future so that we discuss things that exist, not things that seek to needlessly besmirch the reputation of people. I'm also happy that... [Interjections.]
I will also not respond to the issues raised by hon Nondaba because he generalised. He didn't say anything except in areas in which I also have a keen interest, for example, ensuring that the rural poor have access to information and communications technology services. I did indicate in my speech that one of the areas in which we congratulate the SABC and Sentech for their inputs is in the provision of low-powered generation so as to make broadcasting accessible to rural areas. Kwazulu-Natal, by the way, is one of the provinces where we are pursuing this effort. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
Regarding the task team's recommendations, we have said we put the report of the task team under wraps because we were interested in solving a problem of governance which has been intractable for a very long time. There was very little or poor governance and very little financial management. I substantially addressed the issues relating to the SABC, highlighting how we have tried to turn the institution around using those recommendations. We also ensured that the new board, with the recommendations that came from the interim board, is able to get a handle on things and turn the SABC around.
The capacity that was in the task team will continue to be used by the board. I had a request indicating that they still needed to use that resource, not as the task team that existed in the past, but as individuals who have the knowledge that can help the board in turning around the SABC. I think that with the new board at Sentech we may perhaps receive a similar request, so that we can use this capacity to turn things around at both institutions.
We were not interested in witch-hunting. However, where there have been findings of wrongdoing, the Auditor-General recommended that people should be investigated and, where necessary, disciplinary action should be taken. The current SABC board is doing exactly that. So it is not as if we are sitting on these recommendations and doing nothing.
With regard to the Public Service Broadcasting Bill, we are putting issues up for discussion so that people may advise us on how we might do things differently. We have made these issues public for discussion. Also, I will forward the proposals that members are making to Cabinet. In the end, if anything like a Money Bill is the result, we won't be responsible for that. However, as Parliament we can't try to stifle debate about issues. When we discuss the Bill, members will be free to make inputs, for example, whether they feel that the Minister is trying to be overbearing or is trying to control boards. We are quite open to views that might be expressed by the public and this Parliament. Everything will come here and we will then discuss it.
Regarding comments made by hon De Lille, in my speech I said that we were reviewing those obligations because we understood that there were so many obligations that had not been carried out by the "telcos". In my report I stated that we had set up a review mechanism in the department which, among other things, resulted in the contribution we are making to the SA Police Service and other agencies for 2010 of ensuring that they have the capacity to use the cellphones that the "telcos" are going to give them.
We are really trying to close a gap that has been in existence and we have looked at such things as the deficiencies and obligations that people have not carried out. We will get to all the other ones because this is just the start. Furthermore, there is very little that we can do within the period that we have been in office. I thank you. [Applause.]