Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi. Picture: X
Cabinet has advised Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi to make a submission to it if he wanted the SABC bill to be withdrawn from Parliament.
This comes after Malatsi informed National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza of his decision to withdraw the bill following consultations with stakeholders who criticised it over financial sustainability, editorial independence and political interference at the public broadcaster. Malatsi had said the bill did not address the sustainable funding model of the public broadcaster.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the cabinet was briefed on the matter.
“As indicated in the last briefing, the bill is an executive bill. The Leader of Government Business has written to the Speaker and indicated the bill has not been withdrawn,” she said.
“Minister Malatsi has been advised that if he wants to withdraw the bill, he must make a submission.” She also said the cabinet had accepted that there was no malice intended by Malatsi when he withdrew the bill in Parliament using a parliamentary rule.
“It is part of standard protocol –new ministers will get used to how the cabinet operates,” Ntshavheni. Meanwhile, Ntshavheni said the cabinet would be guided by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure when they updated on progress made in the registration of spaza shops with municipalities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered that spaza shops and other food handling facilities be registered within the municipalities within 21 days.
This was after 22 children died from food-borne illnesses. Ntshavheni said the cabinet reminded all spaza shops and food-handling facilities that they were required to register with their municipality within 21 days from November 15 and to meet required health standards or face closure. More than 1000 spaza shops, supermarkets and warehouses that have been closed down by officials after inspections.
Ntshavheni also warned that action will be taken against those that attempt to register spaza shops on behalf of foreign nationals.
Ntshavheni also said that the Small Business Development Department and Trade and Industry Department would launch a Small Business Enterprises Fund to support township and rural businesses. She indicated that a foreign national could operate a business in the country if they invested R5million. “We hope when municipalities register foreign national-owned spaza shops, they demonstrate the investment of R5m in that spaza shop,” Ntshavheni said.
Since Ramaphosa made his announcement, multi-disciplinary teams have been conducting inspections of spaza shops across the country.
Nearly 200 000 spaza shops have been visited and more than 1 000 spaza shops, supermarkets and warehouses have been closed down and large quantities of stock confiscated.
Cape Times