by Thinus Ferreira
In the latest palace intrigue at South Africa's embattled public broadcaster, both its former fired SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni, as well as its former economics editor who quit last year Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki, could possibly return - as SABC board members.
Phathiswa Magopeni and Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki are among the 37 shortlisted candidates for vacancies on the SABC board, and could possibly return, Game of Thrones-style, to the broadcasting castle and the rulers of the airwaves who worked to oust them.
Shortlisted from 120 nominations, interviews with the 37 shortlisted candidates for SABC board seats will take place between 13 and 16 September, with their CVs published until 22 September 2022 for public comments. The term of the current SABC board expires on 15 October 2022.
Phathiswa Magopeni was fired in January 2022 following a disciplinary hearing, blaming her for the airing of an episode of the now-cancelled Special Assigment programme on SABC3 and SABC News (DStv 404) while it was still subject to a court interdict.
Phathiswa Magopeni accused Bongumusa Makhathini, SABC chairperson, and Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO, of alleged editorial interference, and revealed that ANC officials like Fikile Mbalula and the late Jessie Duarte had interfered and verbally abused SABC News journalists.
Thandeka Qhubule-Mbeki, the SABC's former economics editor who also faced a disciplinary hearing quit the SABC in April 2021, alleging multiple instances of governance and policy breaches at the SABC and tolerance for fraud and corruption at the public broadcaster.
Thandeka Qhubule-Mbeki became known as one of the so-called "SABC 8" journalists who were fired - and later reinstated - for opposing the SABC News editorial changes mandated by the controversial then-COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
The current deputy SABC chairperson Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi, the current SABC board member Prof Sathasivan Cooper, and the former SABC News presenter Mpho Tsedu also made the shortlist.
Also making the shortlist are former SABC News journalist and currently non-executive SABC director since June 2022 Dr Renee Horne; current SABC board members David Maimela, Dinkwanyane Kgalema Mohuba, Jack Phalane; former SABC board member Lumko Mtimde; the former SABC Radio news editor Prof Franz Krüger; the former 5FM station manager, M-Net exec and Power98.7FM and Classic 1027 FM programming boss Lance Rothschild, and the former SABC TV boss Quentin Green.
A mindboggling inclusion on the shortlist is the suspended and controversial CEO of the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRSA), Mamodupi Mohlala.
Mamodupi Mohlala stands accused of having made multiple irregular appointments at the PPRSA, as well as being responsible for fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
The shortlist of 37 candidates are:
Adv T Thipanyane
Dr O van Heerden
Ms C Stimpel
Dr R Horne
Ms F Skweyiya Gushu
Ms L Maepa
Mr D Maimela
Ms M Mohlala Mulaudzi
Mr D Mohuba
Ms M Moonsamy
Mr J Phalane
Ms M Titi
Mr K Moshounyane
Ms N Bapela
Mr K Ramukumba
Ms N Batyi
Mr L Mtimde
Ms N Matyumza
Mr L Rothschild
Ms N Mda
Mr L Zita
Ms P Kadi
Mr M Tsedu
Ms P Tshangana Magopeni
Mr P Mashile
Ms R Motaung
Mr Q Green
Ms S Daya
Mr S Bokaba
Ms T Gqubule-Mbeki
Mr T Fakude
Ms Y Sikunyana
Mr Z Metthews
Prof F Krüger
Mr Z Zamisa
Prof S Cooper
Ms A Makhwanya
