SABC appoints Madoda Mxakwe as new CEO, Yolande van Biljon as CFO.

The SABC has appointed Madoda Mxakwe as new CEO – the beleaguered South African public broadcaster's first permanent new CEO in over two and a half years.

Madoda Mxakwe that lacks broadcasting management experience, worked for Nestlé in Switzerland as well as in East and Southern Africa as country head, and takes over the gargantuan task of trying to rightsize the crisis-hit public broadcaster plagued by mismanagement and corruption, ballooning debt and the dented credibility of its news service after censorship orders that were nullified by the country’s broadcasting regulator in March 2017.

The SABC, waiting on yet another possible government bailout, limped along with acting CEOs the past two years since Frans Matlala left in November 2015, with several other top executive positions that have also been left vacant. 

Chris Maroleng was appointed as COO from February 2018, Phathiswa Magopeni was appointed as the new head of news and current affairs from March, and the SABC announced that the chartered accountant Yolande van Biljon has been appointed as its permanent chief financial officer (CFO) effective immediately.

Madoda Mxakwe will take over the reigns as SABC CEO from 1 July. 

He has a masters degree in global political economy from Sussex University in the UK and executive leadership development certificates from the London Business School and a PGD in business administration from the Gordon Institute of Business School (GIBS).

Bongumusa Mahkathini, SABC board chairperson, says Madoda Mxakwe and Yolande van Biljon’s appointments "affirm our commitment to attract and retain the best skills to take the SABC to greater heights, particularly to address the evolving broadcasting environment enabled by technology and the changing media consumer patterns".

He said the SABC board believes the two appointments "will strengthen the organization's position as a credible and reliable public service content provider. As part of the continuous efforts to bring stabiliy, the SABC is in the process of finalising other group executive appointments in order to achieve sound governance in allthe SABC’s business units".

The SABC has had 11 CEOs since 2009, including those who were appointed in an acting capacity, with acting CEO James Aguma who was followed by Nomsa Philiso, before the appointment of Madoda Mxakwe.

SABC advertises for new CEO and chief financial officer (CFO) positions; promises 'a highly competitive package with attractive incentives'.

The SABC is advertising the position for a new CEO for the beleaguered South African public broadcasting, as well as for a new permanent chief financial officer (CFO) following a protracted and acrimonious executive battle behind the scenes.

Lulama Mokhobo quit in February as the umpteenth SABC CEO to suddenly up and leave and not finish a CEO contract, without the SABC giving reasons as a public broadcaster.

In March the SABC fired Gugu Duda as acting CFO. She was suspended in September 2012 at the SABC in relation to procurement and financial irregularities.

Now the SABC is looking for a replacement for both positions.

While the SABC's second highest executive in charge, the acting chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng is famously matricless - and according to a damning Public Protector's report released in February "should never have been appointed at the SABC" - the SABC states as a "prerequisite" that the CEO must have a postgraduate degree, preferably "MBA/MSc or similar equivalent experience".

The SABC CEO must be "a strategic leader, visionary, mentor and coach, as well as a good problem solver". "Knowledge of the media industry will be a major advantage," says the SABC and at least 10 years senior management experience is required.

The SABC promises "a highly competitive package with attractive incentives".

For the CFO position the SABC says the broadcaster "is experiencing a slow but steady economic recovery, but will continue to be challenged in meeting ongoing demands placed on it by the public mandate and the demandsof migrating to digital broadcasting".

The new CFO will have to therefore "provide progressive leadership, excellent financial skills and strong administration capabilities".

"The new CFO will need to initiate creative ways of funding the strategy of the corporation" and will have to work with the CEO and COO in finding new funding opportunities.

The closing date is 12 May.