South African president Jacob Zuma on Tuesday finally rubber-stamped and approved the SABC board following a threat of legal action from civil society and public broadcasting organisations with his new choice of SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini immediately finding himself in a conflict of interest as the chairperson of a foundation of one Zuma's wives.
The under siege presidency of Jacob Zuma on Tuesday finally announced the long-overdue decision to appoint the names recommended by parliament weeks ago, after having missed the deadline to approve the board and to choose and announce who the chairperson and deputy chairperson should be.
Jacob Zuma deliberately decided to damaged the beleaguered South African public broadcaster more by not appointing the board, with the rudderless SABC that has been drifting along without any board after the term of the SABC interim board had expired.
Jacob Zuma appointed Bongumusa Makhathini as SABC board chairperson who is the head executive for legal at British American Tobacco; and Febe Potgieter-Gqubule as SABC board deputy chairperson who is a former African Union deputy chief of staff.
The other SABC board members are Krish Naidoo, Khanyisile Kweyama, John Matisonn, Mathatha Tsedu, Rachel Kalidass, Michael Markovitz, Victor Rambau, Dinkwanyane Mohuba, and Jack Phalane.
Nomvuyiso Batyi withdrew her application for an undisclosed reason.
Bongumusa Makhathini is embroiled in a conflict of interest - he is also the chairperson of the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation, a foundation of Bongi Ngema-Zuma, who is one of Jacob Zuma's wives.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party in a statement said "The chairman, Bongumusa Makhathini, is also the chairman of a foundation run by one of President Zuma's wives, Bongi Ngema-Zuma. His proximity to the Zuma family is a concern," said Phumzile van Damme, DA member of parliament.
"The SABC deputy chairperson Febe Potgieter-Gqubule, has been a close ally and adviser to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, with strong political ties to the ANC. During the interviews, she even admitted that there is a possibility that she would resign from the SABC board if she is elected to the ANC National Executive Committee."
"We further note that Nomvuyiso Batyi withdrew her application. The portfolio committee on communications has agreed to deliberate on the pool of candidates from the last interviews to find a suitable replacement," said Phumzile van Damme.
"It is reassuring that there are some very qualified and suitable individuals on the board and we wish them well all during their tenure. We will be keeping a hawk's eye on the board's work."
"It is now up to them to stand up against corruption and political interference.The DA remains committed to ensuring that the SABC is not re-captured by individuals who don't have South Africans' interests at heart."
ANC secretary-general Gwede Matashe voiced the same criticism over the SABC chairperson on Tuesday from Luthuli House.
"We raised concerns when we saw the pronounced board and said we know South African as a noisy country, pays attention to everything."
"It’s an issue. He is appointed and that is an institutional appointment but we say that issue is an issue that will be raising eyebrows."
The Right2Know campaign civil socety pressure group says in a statement "R2K notes with concern that Jacob Zuma has appointed loyalists to lead the SABC board".
"Why would the president deliberately place the two candidates who are closest to himself and the ANC in the most powerful positions of the SABC board? We are warning the president about the consequence of trying to re-capture the SABC."
"R2K urges the board to take all necessary measures to end the climate of harassment and intimidation of SABC's workers, and to raise the morale of staff."
"The Right2Know Campaign unreservedly supports the SABC staff's rights to engage in a legal strike action."
The trade union Bemawu said Bongumusa Makhathini should resign from the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation's board, and that Febe Potgieter-Gqubule needs to resign from the SABC if she is elected to any ANC position.
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) said Bongumusa Makhathini must resign immediately from his position as chairperson of the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation or will be seen as compromised.
Parliament's portfolio committee on communications welcomed the appointment of the new SABC board.
"We are looking forward to working together with them in taking the SABC to new heights," said Humphrey Maxegwana, committee chairperson, said in a statement.
The Support Public Broadcasting (SOS Coalition) said in a statement "The excitement at the SABC board being appointed should not cloud the fact that the SABC has been without a board for at least 3 weeks. As such, the president's delayed action must be condemned."
"Febe Potgieter-Gqubule stated in her interviews in parliament that she would leave the SABC board if she were appointed to the ANC NEC in December."
"This means that the new SABC board could potentially be left with yet another leadership vacuum in the coming months. This is an eventuality that doesn't encourage our confidence in the stability of the incoming board," said the SOS Coalition.
