SABC’s odd decisions off the board

FORMER South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board member Krish Naidoo yesterday told parliament’s ad hoc inquiry into the public service broadcaster about governance gaps which allowed decisions to be made without input from the board.

The committee held its third day of hearings into the state of the SABC‚ where group head of corporate affairs Hlaudi Motsoeneng leapt from one senior position to the next after the courts set aside his appointment as chief operating officer.

The committee’s hearings continue despite SABC board chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe this week refusing to subject himself to the scrutiny of the ad hoc committee‚ contending that it was biased.

This is despite the fact that his court bid to have the committee set aside days before it started had failed.

In October‚ Naidoo resigned during a parliament portfolio committee meeting into the state of governance at the SABC.

Naidoo said the SABC could not make key decisions without a complete board or one with at least nine members.

Referring to the SABC board scandal, President Jacob Zuma asked public servants and those serving in state-owned entities to respect parliament and abide by its oversight requirements.

“In this regard‚ the management and staff of government departments‚ as well as board members‚ management and staff of state-owned entities and companies are all accountable to Parliament‚” Presidency spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

His comment comes as Maguvhe snubbed the ad-hoc committee. — TMG Digital