South Africa’s independent television production sector is anxiously awaiting the outcome of a meeting held on 18 June between members of the board of crisis-stricken public broadcaster SABC and the Parliamentary Communications Portfolio Committee. This follows the resignation earlier this week of SABC board acting chairperson Ashwin Trikamjee.
According to Misa, opposition party MPs are calling for an establishment of a commission of inquiry into the financial and management problems at the SABC. The broadcaster is R800m in the red and owes independent producers R60m.
It is possible that the Portfolio Committee may dissolve the remains of the board as in its current state it is legally disfunctional. Only three board members of the 12 appointed by former president Thabo Mbeki in December 2007 are left.
