Vote on amendments to Broadcasting Act could be taken today

The Draft Committee Bill seeks to amend the Broadcasting Act.

The purpose of the bill is to provide for the removal of a member of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) by the appointing body on the recommendation of Parliament's National Assembly. The bill will also look at the dissolution of the SABC Board.

In terms of the objectives of the proposed legislation, the Broadcasting Act does not provide a mechanism whereby the SABC board may be dissolved if it is unable to perform its functions. The act only provides for the removal of individual members of the board upon the recommendation of the board itself.

The Portfolio Committee has already listened to public submissions on amendments to the Act. Civil Society submitted proposals last week.

Yesterday, Tuesday, 12 August 2008, the ruling party proposed that it wanted to see the Speaker of the National Assembly play an important part in, especially the appointment of an interim board.

The ANC said that it would like to see that the appointing authority would not only be the President of the country but also that the Speaker would play a role.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews.