Speaker, Cope can unfortunately not support the appointment of the interim SABC board today, since we reject the ANC's escalating politicisation of the public broadcaster with contempt.
We, however, do not question the integrity or the ability of the individuals who have been nominated. Our concern is that the board will lack expertise in financial management, which is a key performance area if the board wants to implement an urgent turnaround strategy for the corporation in the six months of their existence.
Cope's concern is furthermore the fatally flawed process which was followed. What promised to be an all-inclusive process initially, with proposals for nomination being tabled by all parties, unfortunately suddenly turned bad last Thursday when the ANC members of the portfolio committee dug in their heels and rejected excellent nominations made by opposition parties, simply because they were coming from those political parties. They steamrollered the process by co-opting the IFP - who played a double role in this process - essentially rejecting quality candidates who could have made a huge contribution to the interim board.
Speaker, this does not augur well for the independence of the public broadcaster in the future. Is this yet another attempt to control the SABC from Luthuli House or from the SACP headquarters in Braamfontein?
The SABC is facing its worst financial crisis in the history of the institution, with shocking prima facie evidence having been presented by the unions. If the arrogance of the ANC is anything to go by, we might soon face an attempt to cover up some of the scandalous financial irregularities which might implicate the ANC further - over and above the T-shirt scandal. Only time will tell! [Applause.]