SACP+Statement+on+the+appointment+of+the+new+SABC+Board




 * SACP Statement, 23 December 2007**

=The appointment of the new SABC Board=

The SACP strongly condemns the decision by President Thabo Mbeki to appoint the new SABC Board. As we said before this is a board that has no broader working class and civil society representation, thus flouting the very Broadcasting Act it is supposedly serving under.

We are particularly disturbed at this unilateral action, especially after an SACP national officials’ delegation had strongly raised this matter directly with the previous ANC officials.

It is very unfortunate that this board will in the eyes of many of our people be an illegitimate board, which is being foisted on us based on a list imposed on the ANC study group on communications. This imposition was made by an unmandated factionalist grouping of past leaders of the ANC. It is precisely such behavior that led to the ousting of many of these leaders at the ANC conference in Polokwane. One would therefore have expected President Mbeki to be sensitive and listen to the many concerns raised by, amongst others, the ANC caucus itself and the alliance partners, about both the process leading up to the selection of this board and its representivity.

As the SACP we wish to reiterate our belief in a strong, and predominantly state funded but independent public broadcaster. It is for this reason that we are expressing our displeasure at the appointment of this board.

We call for an immediate review of this decision and for the process to revert back to parliament so that we can have a truly representative board. The SACP will further raise this matter very strongly in the alliance, and with the incoming ANC NEC.


 * Issued by the SACP**
 * Malesela Maleka, SACP Spokesperson**

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