In an unlikely alliance‚ the Democratic Alliance (DA) has joined forces with the South African Communist Party against proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Act. A report in Business Day on Monday said that SACP second deputy general secretary Solly Mapaila on Sunday rejected the amendments‚ which were approved by the Cabinet earlier this month‚ because they “would see the SABC controlled through the Companies Act‚ turning it into a ‘corporate’ instead of a public broadcaster”."The bill will effectively make it a company.… All future ministers will have direct control over the SABC‚ instead of Parliament. It will no longer have to undergo … gruelling parliamentary oversight‚" Mapaila said. "It could become an instrument of individuals‚ which is dangerous. The SABC is an important voice in our democracy."The bill will also change the procedure for the removal and resignation of board members and for the appointment of an interim board.The amendments are set to come before Parliament soon.The DA on Monday said the “amendments would see the last vestige of independence removed from the SABC‚ paving the way for it to become nothing more than an ANC propaganda tool directed by the Minister of Communications‚ Faith Muthambi”.“It is quite telling that that the South African Communist Party (SACP)‚ a party obsessed with state control‚ has come out against their ANC allies by publically opposing the amendments. Its vocal opposition speaks volumes not only into the objectionable content of this Bill‚ but to the sorry state of the tripartite alliance and the disunity amongst key political figures‚" the DA said.“Moreover‚ the amendments are set to remove Parliament’s oversight role over the SABC – in essence ensuring that the public broadcaster is wholly controlled by President Zuma’s Executive. The Bill also includes amendments that provide for the appointment of a 'nomination committee' to make recommendations to the Minister for the appointment of non-executive members of the board – again removing Parliament from the process."The party vowed it would oppose the passing of the bill...