SAVE OUR SABC: RECLAIMING OUR PUBLIC BROADCASTER
PRESS STATEMENT – RELEASE THE NAMES OF THE NOMINEES CHAIRMAN VADI
2 September 2009
The extension by Parliament of the nomination period appears to have achieved what the SOS had argued for - a plethora of well-qualified nominees, which can only be called an embarrassment of riches. It proves that maximum public participation is the way to practice democracy and to get the right people for public institutions.
It is now imperative to practice the principles of maximum transparency. SOS calls upon the Portfolio Committee on Communications to release the full list of nominees and those who nominated them as is done by institutions such as the Judicial Services Commission. It is also important for Parliament to say whether all nominees are eligible and have accepted nomination. To release the names is to practice maximum public participation at every stage of the process. We reiterate that the best way to avoid the debacle of the last process is to be open and transparent as a way of safeguarding against manipulation.
We further call upon the Portfolio Committee to release the reasons for short listing specific individuals and enable the media to cover live or through recording the interviews of the short listed candidates. Again maximum transparency should apply in the interview process and the reasons for selecting particular candidates should be released for public comment before names are forwarded to the National Assembly.
For more information please contact:
Prof Tawana Kupe – Dean of the Faculty Wits University – (078) 459-6041
Kate Skinner – SOS Coordinator – (082) 926-6404
