The Presidency on Tuesday acknowledged the resignations of two of the remaining members of the board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC). The news that Nomvuyo Mhlakaza and Aaron Tshidzumba were stepping down emerged ahead of an ad hoc committee meeting “for the first time” to elect a chairperson to deal with the inquiry into the fitness to hold office of the remaining members of the board.This leaves chairperson Professor Mbulaheni Maguvhe as the only remaining member.“President Jacob Zuma has received and accepted the resignations of Vuyo Mhlakaza and Dr Aaron Tshidzumba as members of the board of the SABC‚ with immediate effect‚” a statement said.“The President has thanked the two former board members for their contribution during their tenure at the SABC and wished them well in all their future endeavours.”The ad hoc committee was formed by the National Assembly after the SABC board members objected to the Portfolio Committee on Communications holding the probe‚ citing “prejudice as the main reason‚ and requested that another committee be appointed to carry out the inquiry”.When it meets on Tuesday‚ it will “receive legal advice on how to proceed with the inquiry and to consider and adopt the committee programme”.Portfolio committee chairperson Humphrey Maxegwana had previously said that the “decision to institute an inquiry into the board of the SABC was taken in the public interest‚ in order to establish facts regarding the state of affairs at the public broadcaster and ascertain the fitness of the current members of the board to hold office”.Maxegwana said the committee “will provide the necessary information to the ad hoc committee in order to allow it to perform its functions in full”.Maxegwana had‚ on receipt of the remaining board members’ objection‚ referred the issue to the National Assembly’s Chair of Chairs “for guidance”‚ but noted that the communications committee “is empowered to investigate or inquire into and make recommendations concerning executive organs of state‚ constitutional institutions‚ and other bodies or institutions”.The committee had‚ more than a month ago‚ agreed to hold an inquiry into the SABC board after it quizzed the board on controversial executive Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s new appointment as group executive for corporate affairs‚ following the Supreme Court of Appeal’s dismissal of his challenge to a judgment which ruled that his earlier appointment as chief operating officer was unlawful.In that meeting‚ SABC board members Vusi Mavuso and Krish Naidoo dropped a bombshell when they resigned‚ citing the “shenanigans” at the public broadcaster. – TMG Digital..