The board of the SABC – and thus the corporation - is accountable to the public through parliament (its appointment authority), government (SABC’s shareholder/owner) and ICASA (the regulator). While such a structure – if carefully balanced – could serve the purpose of proper checks and balances, events over the past few years suggest that the government is attempting to gain more and more influence over the public broadcaster. One of the clearest indications of this intention to date was the publication of a Draft Public Service Broadcasting Bill in October 2009. If enacted it would give the Minister of Communications considerable control over the South African Broadcasting Corporation by putting in place a new funding process and identifying a range of areas in which the minister is empowered to issue direct instructions to the board if – among others – the SABC “is unable to perform its functions effectively”. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 3.1 (2008 = 2.9; 2006 = 4.6) 3.5 Office bearers with the state and political parties, as well as those with a financial interest in the broadcasting industry, are excluded from possible membership on the board of the state/public broadcaster. Unlike the ICASA Act, the Broadcasting Act does not list any specific disqualifications for membership (other than not being a South African citizen or having a criminal record) such as public officials or political party office bearers not being allowed to sit on the SABC board. Some of the board members appointed in late 2009 have been or still are active party office bearers. Suzanne Vos was a AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SOUTH AFRICA 2010 47