Deputy Speaker, the SA Broadcasting Corporation, the SABC, is in perpetual crisis. Its board, responsible for rooting out the rot and putting the broadcaster on a recovery path, needs appropriately experienced people of considerable backbone, integrity and ability, and with a commitment to hard work. There is no room for passengers or the workshy who cannot pull their weight when the going gets tough, which is the basic environment at the SABC.
The current board, when viewed as a whole, lacks financial skills. It has an adequate supply of people with media experience, regulatory knowledge and basic business skills, but there is a gap in finance. The DA objects to Ms Gosa's appointment, in part because she was not the most appropriately qualified candidate we interviewed. For example, a forensic auditor was rejected in her favour. Her expertise is in media and property investment, and I am sure she is valued in that environment.
Ms Gosa has served on the SABC board before. She was there from 2003 to 2005. She resigned before her term expired, because, she said, she could not tolerate the corruption and inefficiency of the corporation. Well, what has changed? How do we know that she will last the course this time?
She also told the committee of her close working relationship with the ANC, and wondered aloud whether this could be interpreted as a conflict of interest and bar her from being considered. It seems not. It has proved to be the final stamp of approval by the majority of the committee.
Besides the skill and corruption woes, the SABC is riddled with political infighting. It does not need an ANC heavyweight on the board. It needs independent minds that are totally focused on turning the SABC into a world- class broadcaster serving the needs of all South Africans. It does not need another ANC pal.
Continued deployment of inappropriately skilled ANC cadres condemns these state entities to fail repeatedly in respect of delivering on their mandates. And yet this House, by approving these appointments, is supporting this insanity. It is time for hon colleagues to realise that they cannot continue to criticise nonperformance of state entities if they are responsible for choosing inappropriate people to govern them. The DA does not support Ms Gosa's appointment.