Speaker, the ACDP regrets that undertakings given by the ANC to seek consensus on the appointment of the interim SABC board were not upheld.
It is clear that, as in the past, the ANC used its majority to bulldoze its wishes through the Portfolio Committee on Communications. Regrettably, this means that the interim board will start off on the back foot, not enjoying broad political support. This could have been easily avoided had the united opposition choice of Prof Mamphela Ramphele been accepted.
Whist the interim board may have the necessary skills, and the ACDP has no problem with individual members, regrettably, it has been politically tainted from the very beginning. This it can ill afford, considering the huge financial, managerial and corporate governance issues that it must resolve. The ACDP will, therefore, not support this report. Thank you. [Applause.]