Speaker, when the NA adopted the motion for the dissolution of the SABC board, it paved the way for the selection and appointment of an interim board to direct the affairs of the SABC until a new board has been selected.
The Portfolio Committee on Communications deliberated on possible candidates for appointment to the interim board, which are today presented before this House for consideration and approval. From the side of the IFP, we urge this House to endorse the names for appointment to the interim board of the SABC. [Applause.]
There is an urgent need to appoint this interim board, because the SABC cannot operate without the authority of a board when there's a need to take decisions that are beyond the scope and authority of the executive management of the corporation. The other urgent task that the interim board has to undertake is to devise a turnaround strategy and stabilise the financial and managerial affairs of the corporation. We have no doubt that the individuals who have been selected are people of impeccable credentials who will be equal to the daunting task that lies ahead of them. They, however, will have no magic wand. They will need to operate as a team to save the SABC from certain disaster, in the interests of the whole nation.
It is true that we, from the opposition parties, strongly urged the ANC to nominate three out of the five names presented here, so that the opposition parties could nominate two names, in the interests of inclusivity. However, when this was not possible, we had to make do with one name for the sake of progress and the urgency of the situation. We urge the majority party to be more flexible and accommodating when the process of the selection of the permanent board is under way in the near future.
Finally, and very importantly, these people will need our support in order to succeed. We thank them for making themselves available for this unenviable task and we wish them well. I thank you. [Applause.]