The new chief executive of the SABC, Solly Mokoetla, has got off on the wrong foot, so far as the Democratic Alliance is concerned.
His remark that he has committed himself to be accountable to the Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda has got right up their nose.
"By pledging his allegiance to the government and not to the (SABC) board Mr Mokoetla has made exactly the wrong start to his new position," according to Lindiwe Mazibuko who speaks for DA on communications.
"His pronouncement undermines good corporate governance and the independence of a public broadcaster which is already on shaky ground."
"Section 14(2) of the Broadcasting Act states clearly that the executive committee is accountable to the board."
"As a veteran of the SABC, who played a key role in transforming it from an apartheid-era state broadcaster into an independent, public broadcaster, Mr Mokoetla cannot be unaware of this."
Mazibuko explained: "We are now faced with a situation in which a CEO appointed by an interim structure has publicly stated that he will be accountable not to the board whose legislative mandate it was to appoint him; nor to the Parliament to which he is legally accountable; but to a minister so eager to turn the independent, public broadcaster into an arm of government that he has drafted a bill giving himself, amongst others, the power to issue instructions and deadlines to the SABC board if it is deemed 'unable to perform its functions effectively'."
She adds that perhaps Mokoetla senses change in the winds and wishes to remain in the government's favour.
Perhaps he does not see himself as accountable to a board which did not appoint him.
"Whatever the case, it is now up to the new board to remind Mr Mokoetla who is really in charge," she said.
"The DA trusts that it will do so swiftly and unequivocally." - I-Net Bridge