1.1. The SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition (SOS) is a non-profit, civil society coalition that represents a range of organisations and concerned individuals. It advocates for the presence of robust public service media dedicated to broadcasting quality, diverse and citizen-orientated content to deepen South Africa’s constitutional values and principles.
1.2. In addition to the concerns we had raised in the letter that was sent to the National Assembly on 30 November 2022 about two candidates, namely:
1.3. The SOS Coalition urges the National Assembly to make Mr Mpho Tsedu’s recommendation conditional upon his resignation as a special advisor to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies . As Mr Tsedu is currently employed as the special advisor to the Ministry which plays an oversight role to the SABC, this is a clear conflict of interest that stands to compromise the independence and integrity of the Board, to say nothing of Mr Tsedu.
1.4. The Coalition submits that adherence to the qualification requirements set out in the Broadcasting Act, 1999 requires that:
1.5. SOS submits that the SABC Board must be independent and credible for it to adequately fulfil its role as the public broadcaster.
1.6. SOS’s rights, as a public interest organisation, reserves its rights to take recommendations by Parliament on review should these be at odds with the requirements of the Broadcasting Act.
Yours Sincerely
UYANDA SIYOTULA
National Coordinator
060 691 2462
SOS URGES THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO REJECT CONFLICTED CANDIDATES FOR THE SABC BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS