By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Assembly (NA) has approved the recommended candidates for consideration to serve on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board.
At its plenary sitting on Tuesday, the NA approved the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies’ report on the filling of 12 non-executive board vacancies, following the expiry of the term of the previous SABC Board on 15 October 2022.
The recommendation was made in terms of section 13(1) of the Broadcasting Act of 1999 Act, which states that, non-executive members must be appointed by the President on the advice of the National Assembly.
In a statement, Parliament said the process of filling of the vacancies follows a letter dated 13 June 2022, received from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, informing the National Assembly of the impending expiry the current SABC Board of Directors’ term of office on 15 October 2022.
“The committee undertook an extensive public consultation process, which included the publishing of an advertisement in the media, calling for nominations for appointment to constitute the SABC Board. The advertisement was published in all 11 South African official languages in national, regional and community newspapers.
“A total of 120 nominations were received, including names that appeared more than once, due to some individuals being nominated by different people and/or organisations. In its report to the NA, the committee recommended 12 candidates based on their performance during the interview process,” Parliament said.
The recommended candidates include:
- Former SABC head of news Phathiswa Magopeni
- Veteran journalist, Renee Horn
- Veteran journalist, Professor Frantz Kruger
- Veteran journalist and broadcaster, Mpho Tsedu
- Constitutional and corporate governance lawyer, Advocate Tseliso Thipanyane
- Former Icasa councillor, Nomvuyiso Batyi
- SABC board member, David Maimela
- Former EFF MP, Magdalene Moonsamy
- Former National Youth Development Agency CEO, Khathutshelo Ramukumba
- Cultural and creative industries researcher, Aifheli Makhwanya
- Rearabetsoe Motaung
- Corporate communications specialist, Dinkwanyane Mohuba
In late November, the committee recommended names to the portfolio committee, which resolved that the shortlisted names be considered by the National Assembly. Committee chair and ANC MP Boyce Maneli presented the committee report for consideration in the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.
DA MP Diane Kohler-Barnard said continued cadre deployment at SOEs like the SABC showed that loyalty to the ANC trumped any other priorities in the government.
She said the committee knew for five years that the SABC board’s term would expire in October and security vetting was little excuse for the delays in installing a new board.
“The SABC has been left without the board for nearly two months with no oversight over the CEO (Madoda Mxakwe), who apparently headed off to Qatar to watch the football. This was the same CEO who just weeks ago bragged to this committee how he brought the losses down to R201 million.
“But while he was focusing on his favourite football team, he scored an own goal as the losses projection suddenly trebled to a massive R608 million. Perhaps in this case he should have kept his eyes off of the football and kept it on the job he is paid such a ransom to do,” said Kohler-Barnard.