Well known actors, Snuki Zikalala, former board members and even controversial Hlaudi Motsoeneng's lawyer are under the 363 applications received to serve on the new SABC board.
Parliament's portfolio committee on Tuesday convened to debate and decide on the details of the process moving forward of shortlisting the candidates to be appointed for the new permanent 12-person SABC board.
The out-of-cash- SABC has seen successive SABC board after board disintegrate with the struggling public broadcaster currently having another interim board that will see its term expire in about a month and a half in September.
Under the 363 applications received are the names of SABC3 Isidingo actor Jack Devnarain who plays Rajesh Kumar, and the film actor Tony Kgoroge.
The SABC's controversial former head of news Snuki Zikalala is also one of the applications - as are Zola Majavu, the controversial Hlaudi Motsoeneng's lawyer who was recently fired by the SABC.
Rich Mkhondo, the former 2010 World Cup spokesperson, and the former ANC Youth League deputy president Ronald Lamola also want to be on the new SABC board. The former SABC board members Rachel Kalidass and Desmond Golding are also willing to return to the SABC.
Current interim SABC board members Febe Potgieter-Gqubule, John Matisonn, Mathata Tsedu, Krish Naidoo and chairperson Khanyisile Kweyama are also on the list.
The portfolio committee suggested that the 363 be shortlisted to 36 candidates with interviews of 45 minutes with each candidate.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party's MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said there should be an "emphasis on quality" over quantity in sifting through the 363 applications.
The African National Congress (ANC) political party MP Nokuzola Tolashe said the committee should go "out of its way" to find the best candidates to shortlist for the new SABC board.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party's MP Phumzile van Damme said all CV's of the candidates should be published on parliament's website with 5 days for the public to comment.
DA MP Gavin Davies said the academic qualifications of the various candidates should be checked and candidates vetted to avoid a repeat of the 2014 scandal that engulfed the former SABC chairperson Ellen Tshabalala who was exposed for lying about her academic qualifications.
