Finalisation of Report on Chapter 9 Institutions: postponement

COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
30 January 2007
FINALISATION OF REPORT ON CHAPTER 9 INSTITUTIONS: POSTPONEMENT

Chairperson: Mr G Oliphant (ANC)

Documents handed out
Report on Chapter 9 Institutions

SUMMARY
The deadline for the Committee’s Report on the Chapter 9 institutions that fell under the Department of Communications was postponed to 31 January 2007. Other matters discussed included the resignation of the CEO of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the firing of the managing director of the South African Post Office (SAPO) and the apparent failure by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to implement the recommendations of the Commission on the blacklisting of journalists by the SABC.

MINUTES
Report on Chapter 9 Institutions
The Committee received a letter from Prof Kadir Asmal, Chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on the Review of Chapter 9 institutions, and was required to comment on certain Chapter 9 institutions that fell under the Department of Communications. The closing date for the submission of the Committee’s Report to that Committee was 31 January 2007, but a one week extension has been granted.

Other Committee business
The Committee discussed the ongoing investigation of the South African Post Office (SAPO), with regard to the sacking last year of its managing director. The committee also made inquiries into the resignation of the CEO of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). It was decided that the Committee visits either SAPO or ICASA, depending on which would ready to receive them. The tentative date was set at 13 February 2007.
 
The Committee discussed the expiration, in 2008, of the current board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). The Committee complained that the report of the commission that was established to investigate the blacklisting of certain journalists by the SABC, was in fact being ignored by the SABC. The Committee urged ICASA to urgently look into the matter.

It was also decided that the Minister of Communications would be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee for a briefing.

Committee minutes
The Committee was unable to adopt the minutes of the last meeting as the Committee Secretary had not made copies available to Members.

The meeting was adjourned.