The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has requested that the closing date for nominations for the next South African Broadcasting Corporation board be extended.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the FXI criticised Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications in its handling of the process, urging it to heed the letter and spirit of the Broadcasting Act.
This required the committee to allow ”participation by the public in the nomination process” and ”transparency and openness” in the appointment of 12 board members.
The FXI said in a statement that advertisements calling for nominations were too small and did not give sufficient publicity to the issue. Also, the programme for public hearings of short-listed candidates was ”unworkable” and vulnerable to suspicion that candidates had already been earmarked.
”In terms of this programme, committee members will be handed CVs of nominees on July 30. For the next two days, the committee will short-list candidates.
”Incredibly, interviews for the short-listed candidates begin the day after the completion of the short-listing process. This is unworkable, and may well lead to suspicions that candidates have already been earmarked.”
The FXI urged the public to participate in the process.
”We must ensure that the SABC, as the public broadcaster, is governed by a well- and broadly-represented board that will foster freedom of expression in this country,” read the statement, adding that governance problems at the SABC had become intolerable.
”The incumbent board is responsible for sweeping under the carpet the Sisulu Commission of Inquiry’s report into allegations of blacklisting of commentators at the SABC.
”This board also — after the damning report against the SABC’s news chief, Snuki Zikalala — still saw it fit to declare its full confidence in Zikalala.” – Sapa