Zuma appoints interim SABC board

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has appointed an interim SABC board‚ the Presidency said yesterday.

The interim board consists of leading businesswoman Khanyisile Kweyama (chair) and veteran journalist Mathatha Tsedu (deputy chair)‚ John Matisson‚ Febbe Potgieter-Gqubule and Krish Naidoo.

“Millions of South Africans rely on the public broadcaster for news‚ information and entertainment. We wish Ms Kweyama and her team well as they begin the important task of leading and revitalising one of the most important national resources‚ the SABC‚” Zuma said in a statement.

The board has been appointed for a period of six months‚ the statement said.

The announcement follows an investigation by parliament into the fitness of the previous board.

Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications earlier this month submitted a report to the National Assembly‚ which stopped just short of calling for Communications Minister Faith Muthambi to be fired.

The parliamentary committee held hearings late last year‚ which featured damning testimony from current and former SABC employees.

Witnesses related accounts of political interference in the SABC’s news production‚ as well as questionable business deals by former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Witnesses alleged in December that Muthambi had strong-armed the SABC board into supporting the appointment of Motsoeneng in 2014‚ despite a report by the public protector that found he had fabricated a matric qualification‚ purged staff who disagreed with him and increased his salary irregularly.

The Cape Town High Court ruled in December that Motsoeneng should not occupy any position at the SABC until the public protector’s report was set aside‚ or new disciplinary processes against him were finalised. – TMG Digital