Parliament’s Communications and Digital Technologies Committee will seek legal advice on whether Minister Solly Malatsi abused his executive power when withdrawing the SABC Bill.
The bill, revived after the May elections, aims to review the way the public broadcaster is funded. Last weekend, Malatsi withdrew the bill, saying it is fatally flawed, in that it does not address this main concern.
Appearing before the committee for the first time since the withdrawal, committee members expressed their dissatisfaction with Malatsi for not consulting them before taking the decision.
The SABC B ill has been in the pipeline for ages. The Minister acknowledges that the withdrawal is disruptive but insists that it is justified.
“The lack of clear, credible financial model in current version, extend to which minister’s powers reflected, lack of clear role for Parliament in appointment of the board, lack of policy foundation to premise the policy on.”
Committee members were not happy that they weren’t consulted.
“This meeting was scheduled long time ago, don’t understand why you couldn’t apprise us, that you had to be so forward to go to media to announce without appraising us,” says EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys.
“The minister used powers vested in him and made own discretion. Could it have been handled differently? Yes, but this is where we are. Can be more respectful in language we use,” says DA MP Tsholofelo Bodlani.
“I think I would be failing in duty if not express concern minister without consultation with legislative arm, if any disrespect shown, that was disrespect to committee,” says ANC MP Shaik Subrathie.
“We get advice in writing based on some of complexities we may have. And in my own view, perhaps of executive authority, to come in the middle of a public participation process and not respond in a way ordinarily expected,” says Committee Chair Khusela Diko.
Malatsi has added that there was no intentional disrespect, and that leadership comes with making tough choices.
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