Maguvhe leads walkout

THE decision by SABC board chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe to lead a walkout of the parliamentary inquiry into the affairs of the public broadcaster was “disgusting” and “disrespectful”, the office of ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu said yesterday.

The walkout followed a refusal by the committee conducting the inquiry to delay the probe.

This followed Maguvhe’s attempt to appeal against the ruling by the Western Cape High Court on Friday which dismissed his application for an interdict to halt the inquiry.

“The walkout and the irrational request are the latest in a series of stalling tricks aimed at frustrating the work of the ad hoc committee,” Mthembu said.

“The committee is already behind schedule due to Maguvhe’s court interdict.”

Mthembu also criticised the refusal of the broadcaster to hand over documents relevant to the probe, including those involving the appointment of controversial SABC executive for corporate affairs, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and the controversial multimillion-rand deal giving pay-TV operator MultiChoice access to the SABC’s archives.

“Today’s walkout was designed to disrupt the work of, and show contempt for, Parliament’s constitutional powers.

“The utter disrespect that the SABC chairman and his lackeys continue to demonstrate against Parliament, including the very institution they lead, represents a serious attack against these institutions and the people of South Africa.”

He warned that in terms of a provision in the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, no one may create disturbances while a committee of the legislature is meeting.

“Such disruptions are punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to three years,” Mthembu’s office cautioned. – ANA