The ANC's bid to get rid of the current SABC board appointed by President Thabo Mbeki on 1 January took another turn on Thursday when it emerged the matter was heading for the National Assembly.

The ANC parliamentary caucus said in a statement that the House would debate a motion of no confidence in the board, proposed by the communications portfolio committee, on 22 May.

At the same time, it said Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri's budget vote, which included the SABC, was rescheduled for debate in the Assembly on 3 June.

The debate was originally scheduled for 13 May, but the committee has yet to receive and consider the SABC's budget and strategic plan presentation.

This was supposed to be done on 30 April, but that acrimonious meeting eventually ended with the ANC declaring it wanted to pass a motion of no confidence in the board.

The presentation is now scheduled for 27 May.

The party launched its bid to get rid of the board during the 30 April meeting with board members and SABC executive management.

Right at the outset, committee chairman Ismail Vadi said "our sense is that all is not well at Auckland Park".

After board chairperson Kanyisiwe Mkonza introduced her delegation, ANC MP Khotso Khumalo raised the issue of a confidential memorandum penned by Mkonza and leaked to the media earlier last month.

The memo expressed concern, among other things, that CEO Dali Mpofu continued to "defy" the board, and lost soccer and cricket broadcast rights.

Khumalo was backed by other ANC MPs and Mkonza's explanations that the board had not taken any position on the issues raised in the memo and that Mpofu would have a chance to respond to the allegations failed to satisfy the MPs.

Nor did her assurances that the leak was being investigated.

After much further discussion, Vadi adjourned the committee for MPs to caucus.

On their return, ANC MP Eric Kholwane said it was clear there were "serious challenges or problems" between the board and management of SABC that had yet to be resolved.

It was clear the board was not in a position to execute its fiduciary duties.

"And we therefore accordingly want to pass a vote of no confidence to this board. Due processes will be followed in terms of what must happen," Kholwane said.

Vadi said: "We take this as an expression of an opinion by this committee, or at least the majority in this committee. The committee will have to report to the House and I suppose it will be debated there.

"Thereafter we will decide on the next step," he said.

Sapa