By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SABC group chief executive officer (GCEO) Madoda Mxakwe has been designated as the board chairperson of the broadcaster to the dismay of the Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow minister in communications Dianne Kohler-Barnard.
SABC has been without a board for nearly four months despite a shortlist of candidates nominated having been approved by Parliament in terms of the Broadcasting Act.
The National Assembly recommended 12 candidates to President Cyril Ramaphosa in December 2022, with three additional names also selected.
After the state of the nation address (Sona) last week, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni revealed that the decision had been made “with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana as the board of the SABC.”
“Of course he can’t have a dual role – he can’t earn a salary from the SABC in the mornings and in the afternoon moonlight as the head of a non-existent Board. Nor does this bizarre appointment give him the power to sign off on the crucial decisions which should be taken by the Board, says Kohler-Barnard.
Who has authorised this? ask Kohler-Barnard.
“He was never interviewed for the position by our Committee in Parliament, or vetted for the position, or left his job as CEO to stand in this position. It is incomprehensible that she should make such an announcement, added Kohler-Barnard.
She said she will be writing to Ntshaveni and Godongwana and to President Cyril Ramaphosa demanding answers. In the meantime the SABC languishes without a Board – leaving the CEO, CFO and COO with unfettered powers and zero oversight.
Civil society organisations have also threatened legal action against government as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) continues to be without a board.
Both SOS Coalition and MMA have criticised the move, arguing that the two ministers exceeded their powers.
“On a simple basis of good governance, it cannot surely be legitimate for one individual to be given board powers and make decisions that otherwise require 15 members of which 12 are non-executive members,” the organisations said in a statement.
The minister’s assertion that the GCEO is the board is at odds with even the most rudimentary elements of governing the SABC.”
The organisations also questioned the manner the appointment was announced through “an ad hoc interview”.
The process of appointing the new SABC board had dragged on for months due to delays in vetting, which is conducted by the State Security Agency (SSA).
The previous board’s term ended on 15 October.
Former SABC head of news Phathiswa Magopeni, former SABC journalist Dr Renee Horne, veteran broadcaster Mpho Tsedu, and the CEO of the Association of Comms and Technology Nomvuyiso Batyi, have been given the greenlight to serve on the new board.
The other recommended candidates included Advocate Tseliso Thipanyane, Khathutshelo Ramukumba, Professor Franz Krüger, Aifheli Makhwanya, Rearabetsoe Motaung, lawyer Magdalene Moonsamy and Dinkwanyane Mohuba.
The National Assembly also adopted three additional names – Zolani Matthews, Palesa Kadi and Quentin Green – who were placed on a reserve list to be appointed if one of the 12 candidates were unable to serve on the board.