NEWSWATCH: It was a case of 'like it or Lumko it' when the ANC used its majority on Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications to secure the appointment of their party's three preferred candidates to vacancies on the SABC board. Among them is the now-controversial Lumko Mtimde. Reports from Times Live, Politicsweb and Business Day.
For more:
Politicsweb: ANC MPs on board for SABC... It should be a surprise... It's rather like getting the fox to guard the chickens when you have an open supporter of media curbs and the media tribunal being appointed to the board of the national broadcaster - which is ostensibly tasked with providing news that is accurate and unbiased. But then many commentators reckon the SABC packed up being impartial or accurate ages ago, so perhaps it's not such a surprise after all.
Politicsweb: Parliament approves SABC and ICASA board members... The office of the chief whip of the ANC says that political parties mustn't get involved in what it terms "petty politicking" in opposing some of the candidates. So trying to ensure the SABC board is above reproach is now a petty issue?
Business Day: DA, COPE object to Mtimde's nomination for SABC board... They can object all they like, but it's highly unlikely the candidates will be changed - even when one of them supports censorship (Mtimde is in favour of a media appeals tribunal), according to DA shadow minister for communications Natasha Michael. The list of candidates will now be debated before going to Zuma for ratification - anyone accepting bets on the outcome?
