Muthambi tells MPs to buttout on CEO issue

Muthambi made the remarks while the National Assembly's communications portfolio committee discussed the audits of the SABC.

The SABC received a qualified audit for the financial year that ended in March 2014.

Faith Muthambi

Postpone appointment of new CEO

The public broadcaster's failure to fill certain strategic posts - including those of CEO, chief financial officer, head of news and head of the sports division - is seen as a major hurdle to improving its commercial viability.

ANC MP Maesela Kekana told Muthambi it was time she showed leadership and did what was necessary to improve the entities for which she was responsible.

Kekana said: "It tells me another thing, it means that [you] should lead.

"You can't come here [only for us to] tell you one thing every day - 'fill the post' - [which] is an easy thing."

Kekana also suggested Muthambi should postpone the process to appoint a new CEO for the SABC until parliament concludes its inquiry into allegations that SABC chairman Ellen Tshabalala misrepresented her qualifications.

Tshabalala claimed that she possessed a bachelor of commerce degree and a post-graduate diploma in labour relations from the University of South Africa.

Kekana also wanted senior managers in communications parastatals to undergo security vetting before the end of January 2015.

Overstepping boundaries

Muthambi did not take kindly to Kekana's criticism, saying he was overstepping his boundaries. She said the constitution clearly defined a separation of powers between the executive and parliament. She said: "You should not pronounce yourself on that so that you allow the process of the separation of powers to apply."

Muthambi said she would forge ahead with her plans to appoint an SABC CEO by the end of next month, telling MPs that she was only waiting for a report from the government's vetting agencies.

She said: "That's what is causing the delay. The board has already taken a decision on the matter and they've given recommendations to me. But I'm still awaiting the outcome of these other entities, like your vetting agencies."

Muthambi said she was considering introducing a TV licence subsidy for the poor in a bid to improve the SABC's collection of licence fees.

It is unclear how much money the proposed subsidy could involve, as discussions on the matter have only just begun, said Muthambi.

Muthambi said the SABC was wasting financial resources by tracking down defaulters who could not afford to pay the licence in the first place.

One of the main reasons the SABC received a qualified audit was its poor management of licence fees.

Source: The Times via I-NET Bridge