Deputy Speaker, hon members and our guests, today, as we enter this debate as the ANC, our ideological clarity on the nature and character of the public broadcaster is unshaken and is clear.
It remains our resolve to ensure that the right of our people to receive information is not compromised, and we are on record on the development of an information society. Our people have the right to information, which allows them to make their choices in many respects. We are on course to make sure that this becomes a reality.
It was based on this understanding that the 52nd national conference of the ANC re-emphasised the need to speed up the finalisation of the funding model of the public broadcaster. We applaud the Minister of Communications for making sure that the necessary steps were taken. This discussion is in the public domain, as we speak.
It is important to assure the public that the ANC has never resolved to turn the public broadcaster into a state broadcaster. All we called for was to make sure that the Minister intervened, so that the SABC board complied with the necessary legislation, such as the Public Finance Management Act and other provisions. We gave an undertaking on 7 July 2009, when we said that we wished to see a board in place that was representative of our society in all its manifestations. The interests of the middle class and business class can never be the only interests that find resonance in the type of people we need on a board such as that of the SABC. In short, we cannot afford to have an elitist board. We should ensure that the process to appoint the permanent board is inclusive, and we believe in that expectation. Firstly, we were requested as the committee to extend the deadline of the first closing date for nominations. We did so, acknowledging the importance of the role of civic society. This, therefore, calls on all of us to do things differently, as we cannot afford to have a board that doesn't enjoy the support of this House. However, in doing so, we cannot ignore the provisions of the relevant legislation.
Without any fear of contradiction, this was not an easy process. When the committee was called upon to make choices in terms of nominations, of course we had various differences with colleagues in other political parties. However, we must say that the recommended names before the House are based on skill and representivity as required by the legislation. Of course, it's a normal phenomenon, I suppose, in a democratic environment, that other parties and other individuals might brand the process as a political one. There is nothing much we can do about that. It's their individual right. In fact, Parliament consists of political parties.
I don't understand that when the ANC pushes in a certain direction, it becomes a political matter as we are all political parties here in Parliament. I think we need a redefinition for the other political parties, so that they can clarify who they are and what they are doing here. [Applause.] We are also pleased, as the ANC, that in reports of the public media and from other platforms, there's been little outcry about this new board we are proposing. The majority of our people are happy, because they understand that they cannot afford to go through more pain, which is not necessary, which is not informed and which is ill - advised by other parties. [Interjections.]
The lifespan of the interim board is six months, but the board has created a fertile ground for the incoming board to ensure that they continue working and ensuring that the public broadcaster complies with all the relevant policies and legislation. I must hasten to say that during the interviews one of the issues we picked up on and that we need to follow up as a committee or as Parliament, is the issue of conflicts of interest amongst board members themselves and executive managers.
Secondly, we must deal with the matter of editorial independence, because it has become an issue, which seems to confuse some of the decisions of the SABC. The last thing we said that we must deal with is to review and revise the policies, by the board itself, in order to make sure that in moving forward we do away with this distortion, which we have picked up during these trying times.
The ANC would, therefore, like to thank these men and women, who constitute the interim board, for the sterling and wonderful work they have been doing in establishing a solid base for the incoming board. The difficult aspect was that when the interim board was recommended by this committee, all sorts of things were said against the ANC. You see, the problem is that people can't be ... I nearly said, "man enough", or they can't stand for the truth today and say that, indeed, we pointed fingers at the ANC, but they have done sterling work to give us this interim board, because their work is outstanding. No one can dispute the work that the interim board is doing. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
However, we must also say that our hearts go out to those men and women who sold their labour to the SABC as independent producers, and who now can't put food on the table. I therefore call on the committee to engage with the interim board so that relief measures can be found and this doesn't occur or go on.
Whilst, at the same time, we are recommending the appointment of these men and women with a wide range of experience and expertise, we must make sure that, as we have done, we are complying with the process that we need to follow.
I don't understand - maybe someone must assist us with the mathematics. This issue of adding and subtracting and so on, seems to be a challenge. If you need a board of 12 people, and you come here and say you agree about 7 of them, but you still say the board is not inclusive, what does that mean? Seven, for me, is even above 50% of twelve. What do you mean? Can you clarify? Everyone comes here and says that they agree with seven names and only differ about five of them. But they continue to say that this board is not representative, that we have not carried on board the interests of the opposition parties, but on seven names they agree. What does that mean? Maybe somebody needs to clarify that particular argument. [Applause.] I just don't understand. [Interjections.] I don't understand.
I don't understand when people point fingers at this board. For the first time in the history of the SABC board, five of the members serving on the board are white ... [Interjections.] ... because colour was not an issue. Colour was not an issue. The skills and expertise of these men and women was the issue at play. Why can't you give us credit for that? [Interjections.] [Applause.]
We deserve credit where credit is due. Of course, you cannot give it when it is not due. But, I am saying that for the first time ... [Interjections.] The hon Dene Smuts understands that, that for the first time the SABC board has five white people - on that particular board. [Interjections.] So, give credit when it's due. We continue to say ...