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SABC’s Henley’s TV studios entrance in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.
Parliament’s Communications and Digital Technologies Committee Chairperson Khusela Diko says they will consider introducing a Committee Bill or entertain a private members Bill, if Minister Solly Malatsi does not reintroduce the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Bill before the end of the financial year.
Diko says this will be in the interest of the SABC.
Malatsi notified the National Assembly Speaker about the withdrawal of the Bill.
The Bill still has to be withdrawn officially during a National Assembly sitting.
Malatsi said one of the reasons to withdraw the Bill is to focus on a funding model for the Public Broadcaster.
Diko says withdrawing the Bill does not solve challenges faced by the public broadcaster.
She says, “The Department had ample time to finalise the audio-visual policy which is one of the concerns that was raised with civil society to say you are putting the cart before the horse because you want to finalise the SABC Bill without the audio and visual policy.”
“Now he is trigger happy. He goes for the easiest, which is withdrawing this Bill and I hope it’s not for political grandstanding but it doesn’t resolve the challenges of that Bill. “
Diko adds, “As the Portfolio Committee we are calling on him to ensure that it is reintroduced before the end of the financial year otherwise as individual members of the committee or the committee itself, we will then look at entertaining either a Committee Bill or a private members Bill in the interest of the SABC.”
VIDEO | Malatsi pulls plug on SABC Bill:
