Parliament, Tuesday, 15 March 2022 – The Portfolio Committee on Communications has welcomed the presentation of the South African Post Office’s (SAPO’s) turnaround strategy.

The committee unanimously decided to receive this presentation in a partially closed session, in terms of rule 184 of the National Assembly Rules. The decision was taken in consultation with the National Assembly House Chairperson and the Parliament Legal Service Division, which provided a legal opinion.

Item 20 of the legal opinion says: “Chairperson may decide whether to close the meeting in terms of subrule (2)(b) of NA rule 184, namely, the Chairperson to close the meeting for a decision by the Committee whether the matter, or part therefor, should be considered in closed session.”

In the committee's view, the legal opinion is consistent with how it handled the turnaround strategy of the SABC as it related to commercially sensitive reports.

After listening to the presentation, the committee, once again unanimously, felt justified in its decision, due to the commercial sensitivity of the information received.

The committee then presented its observations and recommendations in the open meeting, as agreed before the partial closure of the meeting.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATION, MR BOYCE MANELI.

For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Mr Justice Molafo
Tel: 021 403 8444
Cell: 081 424 748
Email: jmolafo@parliament.gov.za