The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) yesterday urged Parliament to restore "stability, credibility and sound financial capacity" to the embattled SABC.
At its annual meeting in Durban at the weekend, the forum - representing print, broadcast, magazine and online editors - also called for the process of appointing SABC board members to be reviewed in order to avoid political influence and to give citizens a bigger say.
Sanef's call comes as Parliament prepares to adopt a resolution to dissolve the board and appoint interim members to manage the broadcaster's affairs until a permanent board is in place. This comes after months of infighting, which culminated in the resignation of all but one of the board's non-executive members.
Expressing "deep concern" about the crisis, Sanef urged the "relevant role-players to put in place urgently the appropriate governance and management structures and disciplines in order for the SABC to fulfil its mandate".
SABC senior management staff will appear before the National Assembly's communications committee tomorrow.
Acting group chief executive Gab Mampone will present the SABC's strategic plan and turn-around strategy, while chief financial officer Rob Nicholson will detail the broadcaster's financial situation. The SABC is currently in the red to the tune of nearly R800 million.
Communications committee chairman Ismail Vadi said yesterday that an interim board would be appointed by the end of next week.
The National Assembly will debate and vote on the board's dissolution on Wednesday.
An inquiry into the board's problems was held by the committee last week. During the inquiry, Nicholson told MPs there was a breakdown in communication between non-executive and executive SABC members.
Vadi accused board members of inaction.
On Thursday, all political parties will put names forward to create the five-member interim board that will be expected to steer the SABC for the next six months.
Vadi said members of the public would have a say in making nominations for the new board's 12 non-executive members. Names would be put forward to President Jacob Zuma for his final decision.