“As people keep leaving, we get an indication that they don't want to be on this board, which is problematic and was appointed illegitimately. So it makes it even more important that we move forward with new legislation that looks at the finances of the SABC and governance issues,” Skinner said.
“Governance issues would obviously look at the critical issue of SABC appointments. Ultimately we need a collective of people who are legitimately appointed and who have the rights skills and experience. Furthermore, they do need to represent the interests of business and civil society.”
The current SABC board, led by iron-lady Kanyisiwe Mkhonza, was controversially appointed by former President Thabo Mbeki shortly after being defeated by his archrival Jacob Zuma at the helm of the ruling ANC during the 2007 Polokwane conference. Since then, the board has been embroiled in a litany of controversies, including facing a myriad of lawsuits and the multiple suspension and dismissal of former CEO Dali Mpofu.
Under this board, the SABC had recorded a massive financial deficit of more than R800 million. There were also reports that the public broadcaster was about to be liquidated as it was allegedly failing to pay its debtors.
“There are deep divisions within this board and these are the signs of time that it is cracking and walking a tightrope, and we might even see many more figures leaving as time goes by,” an SABC insider said. Skinner believes that if the whole board were to resign, things will be made much easier in the sense that an interim board will have to be appointed, and finally a legitimate and permanent one which includes the right people.
Furthermore, she said that an urgent meeting will be held by the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Communications to look at the financial crisis of the SABC and find ways to get it out of that mess, while at the same time holding the current board into account.
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