Question NW1028 to the Minister of Communications

Robinson, Ms D to ask the Minister of Communications

(a) What is the progress on the implementation of the recommendations with regard to the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the SA Broadcasting Corporation Inquiry, that (i) the Board reviews the SABC’s human resource policies to ensure that they comply with labour legislation and regulations, (ii) the Interim Board, in light of past experience, should start the process of appointing a new Company Secretary (details furnished), (iii) all SABC employees who failed to enter into performance management contracts, should do so within 60 days from date of adoption of this report by the National Assembly and that new appointees should do so before they receive their first salary payment, (iv) all other vacant executive positions be properly advertised and filled with suitably qualified people, and that human resource management-related policies, procedures and practices are adhered to during the appointment process, (v) the Interim/new Board must start the process of filling the top three executive positions of Group Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer with suitably qualified and experienced professionals who are able to develop and put in place systems that will support the Board in its efforts to stabilise and regularise the administration and governance of the SABC, (vi) the Interim Board should evaluate the feasibility of the business case for entering into agreements with rival broadcasters (details furnished) so as to ensure that the public broadcaster does not cross-subsidise its competitors, (vii) the Interim Board, or, if necessary, the new board should urgently engage the Auditor-General to address all its findings relating to irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, as well as to initiate disciplinary steps against any officials as required by section 51(1)(e)(iii) of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, who made and permitted irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure and (viii) the Interim Board should institute an independent forensic investigation into questionable and irregularly-awarded contracts referred to in this report or any other matter which it deems necessary and (b) has the Interim Board set any deadline in accordance with the recommendations of the report?