Anc, Da Tensions Flare Over Sabc Bill

Diko said on Sunday that Malatsi's criticism in an article in the Sunday Times at the weekend of the speaker of the national assembly for reportedly refusing to withdraw the bill from parliament must be "condemned".

Malatsi - a Democratic Alliance MP in the government of national unity - ordered the withdrawal of the bill after it was widely panned by civil society groups, including the SOS Coalition, Media Monitoring Africa and the South African National Editors' Forum.

The bill is urgent given the SABC's need for a new funding model, but Malatsi has insisted it needs to be withdrawn for major changes to be made before being resubmitted to parliament. Its not exactly clear why the ANC is vehemently opposed to the bills withdrawal, especially given Malatsis promise that it will be reintroduced in parliament without a lengthy delay.

Diko's criticism of Malatsi comes after the minister was quoted in the Sunday Times paywall as saying that national assembly speaker, the ANC's Thoko Didiza, was in violation of parliamentary rules by failing to withdraw the SABC Bill, despite his instruction to do so.

But Diko hit back on Sunday in a statement in which she said Malatsi's "action is not only unwarranted in its spirited pursuit to unilaterally withdraw the bill but is also unconstitutional".