The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the appointment of Phil Molefe as SABC Group Executive for News and Current Affairs.

The DA believes this appointment is profoundly problematic.

Mr. Molefe is a deployed cadre with close links to the ANC. We do not believe that he will act fairly and independently, or put party affiliations to one side, when acting in this position within the public broadcaster. It has become extremely clear that phil Molefe is to Jacob Zuma, what Snuki Zikalala was to Thabo Mbeki.

This decision was clearly procedurally problematic. We know that the appointment of Mr. Molefe as acting news head was procedurally flawed. This, indeed, is the same board that sent a lengthy memorandum to the Minister of Communications in June this year, stating the following:

"...the chairperson has stated to other directors, individually, that he was operating under the direct instructions of the President of the Republic and that he was resolved to appoint his preferred candidate, whom he identified by name."

This raises a number of questions. Why is it that the self same board that identified those procedural problems in a memorandum, has now ratified this appointment? The answer to that question could only be that the ANC has applied significant political pressure to the board, and the two recent resignations seems to support that.

The DA will write to the Treasury on this matter right away. We believe that the PFMA guidelines have not been properly applied, and this matters needs to be investigated in terms of section 15 of the Broadcasting Act.

This appointment shakes the very foundations of the independence of the public broadcaster.