SABC Bill still before Parliament despite Malatsi's withdrawal, reveals Ntshavheni

CAPE TOWN - The impasse over Communications Minister Solly Malatsi’s controversial withdrawal of the SABC Bill has taken another turn. 

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has this week informed the National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, that the bill is not to be withdrawn despite Malatsi’s instruction for her to do so in November.

At Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that Malatsi could not decide without prior Cabinet approval. 

Parliament’s house rules, however, don’t make this a requisite for a bill’s withdrawal. 

The SABC Bill was approved by the Cabinet for public comment in 2021 to introduce a new funding model for the public broadcaster. 

In a letter to Parliament, Mashatile as the leader of government business informs the speaker that executive bills can’t be withdrawn unless he’s been consulted first, and there’s been approval from the Cabinet and the president.

Ntshavheni said the Cabinet’s position is that the bill remains before the House. 

“Minister Malatsi has been advised that he must make a submission, and Cabinet has accepted that there was no malice on the part of Minister Malatsi. It’s part of the standard protocols that new ministers will get used to how Cabinet operates.”

But Malatsi has told Eyewitness News he’s standing by his initial withdrawal, after he set out his reasons at a meeting of Parliament’s portfolio committee in November, and informed the speaker of the outcome. 

According to Parliamentary rules, the person in charge of the bill may withdraw it at any time before its second reading. 

House rules also state that if a minister decides to withdraw a bill, the speaker must immediately be informed, and a notice must be published in the gazette.

The rules don’t, however, require Cabinet consent before an executive bill may be withdrawn from Parliament.