Dlodlo: SABC board will not be appointed in two days
The Minister of Communications, Ayanda Dlodlo has refuted media reports that the new SABC board will be appointed before the end of the week.
She was briefing the media on issues affecting her department on Thursday.
There is growing concern over the delay in appointing a permanent board, as the interim board's term expired last week.
"I did say in the portfolio committee in Parliament that I am waiting for a report from SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) to verify the qualifications of the incumbents," says Dlodlo.
The board will ultimately be appointed by President Jacob Zuma.
"Once received, the information will be handed to the Presidency for processing which should allow the President to effectively exercise his discretion," says Dlodlo.
She maintains the SABC is functioning well without a board or permanent executives.
"I must indicate that the operations at the SABC are continuing without hindrance and any matter that requires the attention of the board shall be dealt with in terms of the PFMA, which empowers the CEO to act as an accounting officer in the absence of a board."
However, Media Monitoring Africa's director, William Bird, warns the delay could leave the SABC facing a crisis.
"The risks are huge. By the 12th of October the contract of the acting executives expires. Which means that then, not only do they not have a permanent board, you then have no senior executives. There is no way that we should be in this position. It's like generating a crisis when you don't need to," says Bird.
He says the minister should not be involved in the appointment of the board.
"It is not for the minister to be involved in the appointment of the board. This is why we have parliament, it's an independent body. The Broadcasting Act is clear that the President has to appoint the board. Even the President is not there to review the candidates, he just has to take the list and approve the board."