Minister played no role in meeting to remove SABC members

This follows media reports alleging that the Minister acted unlawfully in the removal of the public broadcaster's board members.

" ... the Minister does not participate in board meetings where such decisions are processed and in this case in the board meeting where such decisions were taken the Minister neither sat nor participated," the department said in a statement.

The department noted that the Minister received recommendations of the board and exercised her oversight by verifying whether the provisions of the governing legislations and instruments outlining the processes have been adhered to.

Minister Muthambi is fully adept with the provisions of both the governing legislation and instruments that direct and govern the operations of the public broadcaster.

"Although the Minister of Communications is the sole shareholder as prescribed by the Broadcasting Act No. 4 of 1999 as amended, she does not and will not interfere with SABC board operations and decisions on any matter," said the department.

It added that the Minister does not micro-manage the SABC, but ratifies lawful decisions taken by the board.

The removal of the board members by the SABC board itself was in accordance with the provisions of Section 71 of the Companies Act No. 71 of 2008, which is the governing legislation applied in conjunction with the Memorandum of Incorporation.

"The decision of the board to remove some board members is the decision that the board arrived at following their own internal due process without any alleged interference from the Minister," the statement said.

In the interest of the people of South Africa, the department said the Minister will support any endeavour by the public broadcaster that will ensure that the public broadcaster is stable and shall effectively and efficiently discharge its mandate.

"In this case the Minister supported the decision of the board to remove the board members following their due process as she found nothing untoward in the process followed," the department said.