Muthambi tells MPs to butt out on CEO issue

22 October 2014 - 02:17 By Thabo Mokone
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RESOLUTE: Faith Muthambi.
RESOLUTE: Faith Muthambi.
Image: SIYABULELA DUDA

Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has told ANC MPs not to interfere in her department's affairs after they urged her to halt the process to appoint the new CEO of the SABC.

Muthambi made the remarks while the National Assembly's communications portfolio committee discussed the audits of the SABC.

The SABC received a qualified audit for the financial year that ended in March.

The public broadcaster's failure to fill certain strategic posts - incl uding those of CEO, chief financial officer, head of news and head of the sports division - is seen as a major hurdle to improving its commercial viability .

ANC MP Maesela Kekana told Muthambi it was time she showed leadership and did what was necessary to improve the entities for which she was responsible.

Kekana said: "It tells me another thing, it means that [you] should lead.

"You can't come here [only for us to] tell you one thing every day - 'fill the post' - [which] is an easy thing."

Kekana also suggested Muthambi should postpone the process to appoint a new CEO for the SABC until parliament concludes its inquiry into allegations that SABC chairman Ellen Tshabalala misrepresented her qualifications.

Tshabalala claimed that she possessed a bachelor of commerce degree and a post-graduate diploma in labour relations from the University of South Africa.

Kekana also wanted senior managers in communications parastatals to undergo security vetting before the end of January next year.

Muthambi did not take kindly to Kekana's criticism, saying he was overstepping his boundaries. She said the constitution clearly defined a separation of powers between the executive and parliament. She said: "You should not pronounce yourself on that so that you allow the process of the separation of powers to apply."

Muthambi said she would forge ahead with her plans to appoint an SABC CEO by the end of next month, telling MPs she was only waiting for a report from the government's vetting agencies.

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