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DA: ANC allowed SABC crisis to escalate

The DA has slammed the ANC for the party’s inactivity over the ongoing crisis at the SABC concerning Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s appointment as COO.

The DA says that, although the ANC has called for the SABC to revoke Motsoeneng’s appointment to a new senior position, the party allowed the crisis at the public broadcaster to escalate for too long.

The ANC in parliament, through Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu responded to the news of Motsoeneng being appointed the public broadcaster’s Group Executive of Corporate Affairs, saying it was the straw that broke that camel’s back and that an inquiry into the public broadcaster’s fitness, was needed.

The DA said in a statement that it welcomes the ANC “finally agreeing to a much-needed parliamentary inquiry into the fitness of the SABC Board to hold office”.

“The board has overseen and allowed for institutional rot to set in at the SABC and should be held accountable for its failures. It is a pity that the ANC allowed the crisis at the SABC to continue to escalate over the last couple of months,”said DA national spokesperson, Phumzile van Damme.

“The crisis could have been avoided much sooner, nevertheless, we are pleased that they have woken up and smelled the coffee,” she added.

van Damme said the statement by Mthembu must go beyond mere public relations tactics “to save the ANC from another embarrassment” and be put into action.

“The inquiry is vital for the survival of the SABC and the restoration of trust between the public broadcaster and the people of South Africa,” she said

SABC only serves ANC, Muthambi and Motsoeneng

van Damme did not hold back from lashing out at the SABC and its supposed links to the ruling party.

“It has become patently clear that the board of the SABC only serves to further the interests of the ANC, the Communications Minister, Faith Muthambi, and Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and is not dedicated – as required by the Broadcasting Act – to fairness, freedom of expression, the right of the public to be informed, and openness and accountability,” she said.

Annual report to be released

Today, South Africa will get a clear view into exactly how big the “crisis” at the SABC is, when it released its annual report.

Last year, the public broadcaster recorded a loss of nearly R400 million, which was blamed on various factors, including the lengthy Post Office strike, which affected the payment of TV licences.

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