Committee recommends dissolving SABC board

Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications recommended on Friday that the board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) be dissolved.

In a report to be handed to Parliament, the committee said the SABC was no longer able to fulfil its statutory duties.

The committee, noting the unanimous appeal made by board members at the end of the inquiry calling on Parliament to dissolve the board, further found there was no possibility that the current board was able and competent to fulfil its statutory duty, the report said.

“The committee unanimously recommends that the National Assembly adopts a resolution recommending to the appointing authority the dissolution of the SABC board.”

The SABC reported a financial loss of R839-million for the 2008/09 financial year.

The report said this was the result of declining revenue and “unrestrained over-expenditure”.

“The SABC is in a state of crisis, both financially and in terms of a breakdown in corporate governance.”—I-Net Bridge