Madam Deputy Speaker, on 1 July 2009 we called upon this National Assembly to dissolve what was left of the previous board of the SABC in order to pave the way for the nomination of an interim board to manage the affairs of the SABC. At the same time, we called for an inquiry into the financial affairs of the SABC so that the wrongdoers could be brought to book.
The Auditor-General has completed the necessary investigation and has reported to the portfolio committee. The interim board is seized with the necessary follow-up of ensuring that the wrongdoers account for their misdeeds. While those processes were going on, the portfolio committee was hard at work interviewing candidates for the new board of the SABC. That process went very well and we selected the names of individuals that are today brought before this House for acceptance.
The IFP supports these people as they represent the best crop of highly qualified and experienced individuals ... [Applause.] ... drawn from various sectors, in compliance with the Broadcasting Act. We are convinced that these candidates will give the SABC a competent, effective, strong and balanced board. It is our hope that they will give the SABC strong leadership and the country confidence that our national broadcaster is now in good hands and that this will ensure that the SABC serves the interests of our people as a whole.
We want to take this opportunity to thank members of the interim board for the manner in which they accepted the daunting and challenging responsibility of going in to stabilise the SABC and stop it from complete self-destruction. They moved quickly in there and hit the road running. We hope the new board will emulate their good example and do the same. I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. [Applause.]