by Thinus Ferreira
Lungile Binza who has been acting chief operating officer since February has been appointed as SABC COO of South Africa's public broadcaster from March 2025.
Lungile Binza replaces Ian Plaatjes who the SABC fired in June last year. Ian Plaatjes has since taken the SABC to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) over his June dismissal.
Until now Lungile Binza, a software engineer has been the SABC's head of technology.
Lungile Binza has a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and mathematical Statistics.
He also obtained a postgraduate diploma in business administration (PDBA) from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science, and two master's degrees: a Master of Commerce in information systems from the University of Cape Town and a Master in business administration in general management from the University of Pretoria.
Lungile Binza is currently completing his PhD degree in ethical artificial intelligence.
According to the SABC, Lungile Binza's "extensive expertise and visionary approach have been instrumental in driving innovation and operational excellence within the SABC".
According to the broadcaster, Lungile Binza "will continue to oversee the corporation's operations, ensuring the delivery of quality broadcasting services to our diverse audience".
