Parliament Committee Criticises Minister’s Withdrawal of SABC Bill, DA Calls Move ‘Bold and Decisive’

By: Xolani Khumalo

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has expressed concern over Minister Solly Malatsi’s withdrawal of the SABC Bill.

The minister argues that the bill does not adequately address the public broadcaster’s funding model.

The committee’s chairperson, Khusela Diko, states that the challenges facing the SABC require a considered and urgent response, not rash action that only serves to frustrate and disrupt ongoing processes.

She adds that the public broadcaster cannot be allowed to fail, as its collapse would result in unmitigated disaster.

However, the DA has described Malatsi’s decision to withdraw the contentious bill from Parliament as bold and decisive.

The DA’s Tholofelo Bodlani notes that, given the myriad of challenges facing the SABC, the bill was significantly counter-productive.

“This paves way for the minister and the department to provide South Africans with a bill that will address the issues that are affecting the SABC, especially the funding model. The SABC remains an important institution for South Africa and our democracy,” said Bodlani.