‘Hands off’ the Cabinet’s Bill

APPROVED: COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER TOLD HE HAS NO AUTHORITY TO WITHDRAW SABC BILL

- Molefe Seeletsa

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi does not have the authority to retract the SABC Bill without prior consent from the Cabinet.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said yesterday the Bill was withdrawn without the Cabinet's approval.

Ntshavheni held a media briefing yesterday regarding Cabinet meeting outcomes.

"The SABC Bill is not a private member's Bill, it's not Mr Malatsi's Bill.

"It's a Bill of the Cabinet and the executive, so in terms of the law, he cannot withdraw it without coming to the Cabinet to agree to its withdrawal. The Bill was submitted to parliament after it was approved by the Cabinet," Ntshavheni said.

She said that the withdrawal issue would be addressed at the next Cabinet meeting.

"There's no minister, even myself, I can't withdraw any Bill which has been approved by the Cabinet unless it's a private member's Bill.