Key governance roleplayers Minister DOC, ICASA, Parliament, SABC Board, SABC Management and the Public

1. 1 Key governance roleplayers – Minister & DOC, ICASA, Parliament, SABC Board, SABC Management and the Public Kate Skinner SOS Coordinator

2. 2 Role of the Minister and Dept of Communications Currently: The SABC is a public company - the state (represented by the Minister) is the sole shareholder of the SABC. Role of Minister outlined in Articles & annually signed Shareholder Compact. The Articles give the Minister (not the board) the right to determine the appointments of the GCEO, COO and CFO; approve the GCEO’s employment contract, insists on the submission of the annual report and financial statements to the Minister with no mention of Parliament, corporate plans must be submitted to the Minister, monthly management accounts. Ideally: Timeous policy and oversight role.

3. 3 Role of ICASA Currently: Setting licence conditions and ensuring compliance Ensuring the SABC’s adherence to its Charter and legislative compliance Ideally: Key regulator of the public broadcaster Active monitoring of licence conditions, Charter and legislative compliance Making timeous interventions to protect public interest in the SABC eg. appointments, content etc

4. 4 Role of Parliament Currently: Appointments Oversight of SABC in terms of content, board functioning, finances Passage of legislation Oversight of other stakeholders: DOC, ICASA Ideally: Ensuring/protection independence of the SABC Appointing appropriate Board members – skills, representivity, non-party aligned Proper oversight: fulfilling public mandate and ensuring public interest is protected sustainability of finances, sound financial management Appropriate board/senior management functioning Ensuring sufficient funding Passing proper legislation Ensuring Minister, DOC, ICASA etc plays appropriate roles to protect public interest ie integrity of the SABC

5. 5 Role of SABC Board Currently: The Board, in terms of the Broadcasting Act – “controls the affairs of the Corporation”, entrusted with compliance with the Charter and ensuring the broadcaster meets the objectives for public broadcasting in South Africa but Minister undermines this role. Is the accounting authority. This gives the Board particular financial responsibilities and makes them accountable for mismanagement. Creates confusion re: management / board responsibilities Ideally: The CEO should be the accounting officer as in constitutional entities. Appoint and oversight of executive directors and senior management Develop strategies to meet public mandate and ensure these are implemented Protect the public interest generally

6. 6 Role of SABC Management Currently: The legislation provides for an Executive Committee (which is accountable to the Board and responsible for administration). Made up of the three executive members of the board and up to 11 others. However, is in open conflict with the board, factional, has management experience but not broadcasting experience Ideally: Needs specific broadcasting knowledge/skills Non-party aligned Implement Board-approved strategies to meet public mandate Protect the public interest especially re: content, finances

7. 7 Role of the Public Currently: Public is supposed to play a key role in nomination of the Board. Various complaint structures available to the public in terms of ICASA, the SABC itself etc. The SABC has to draft its editorial policies through public consultation Ideally: Mandatory mechanisms to provide for public participation Audience forums Civil society forums re: shaping SABC-related legislation, regulations and licence conditions etc