SABC inquiry MPs to begin drafting report

19th January 2017 By: News24Wire

SABC inquiry MPs to begin drafting report

The ad hoc committee looking into the fitness of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board will begin deliberations on its draft parliamentary report on Thursday.

Deliberations are set down from 10:00 to 17:00 in Parliament.

The ad hoc committee's working document, which highlights some of the preliminary findings from the nine days of witness testimonies in December and January, was leaked on social media on Tuesday night.

It contains recommendations of forensic probes into allegations made by several witnesses, including those about deals involving the SABC, MultiChoice and the Gupta-owned The New Age.

Committee chairperson Vincent Smith on Wednesday expressed his "dismay" that the working document was leaked, but said this would not stop the committee from finishing its work on Thursday and Friday.

He said the document was only meant to aid MPs during their deliberations, and has no legal standing until finalised by the committee.

The committee will send their draft report to all affected parties, including the remaining acting SABC group executives, for comment and rebuttal by January 28.

A final report is due to be presented before the National Assembly on February 15.