by Thinus Ferreira
Try to find a print interview with, or any available profile article on, SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli in 2024 in her first year as head of the South African public broadcaster.
I couldn't, and weirdly none seems to exist.
It's striking that the top executive of the South African public broadcaster didn't do any interviews this entire year that South Africa's film and TV industry could read to get a sense of who she is, or her plans and vision for the broadcaster.
Other SABC CEOs in the past have done interviews, and also done interviews when they were appointed - it also happens overseas, so there is precedent - as well as other SABC execs like when SABC News bosses have been appointed. They talk to the media in sit-down interviews for publications.
Nomsa, with a marketing background, hasn't.
Personally, I have myself as a journalist asked the SABC if it's possible to do an interview with Nomsa Chabeli since February this year, and constantly thereafter.
Originally the SABC replied and said in February that they "haven't scheduled interviews for her as yet". This was odd since she was at that time already months' into the start of her job as SABC CEO.
Multiple people working in South Africa's TV biz - as well as people overseas - have already been wondering what Nomsa Chabeli might want to do at the SABC, how she sees her job and the position, what she sees as immediate challenges, what her vision is for the broadcaster and what she wants to achieve.
After February the SABC was asked numerous times, again, for months, if Nomsa Chabeli is able to do any interview. I kept follow up from my side, month after month, reaching out again, and asking for feedback on the possibility again.
Of course Nomsa Chabeli is busy and it's understandable. The SABC also said that Nomsa Chabeli is always busy.
It's however quite striking that it didn't seem to be a priority for the South African public broadcaster to block time out of the SABC CEO's schedule to do sit-down interviews with the press.
Even when Nomsa Chabeli travelled to Mbombela in Mpumalanga to attend the Metro FM Awards in April, or to Cape Town to spend time in Primedia's MasterChef South Africa's kitchen at Atlantic Studios for a MasterChef SA dinner in October, there were no allowance for any interviews.
Compare this to how American and European CEOs of companies and other executives within the broadcasting, TV and film sphere quickly and often do print interviews.
Somebody new in a position - especially that of CEO - wouldn't be appointed and not grant and do any print interviews at the start of their tenure. They even do exit interviews.
The industry and the myriad professionals working within the TV and film industry have a need to hear and read what CEOs - including the SABC's one - have to say, their stance on issues, and how they chart the part forward.
Believe me, I see and read the emails and messages, and have tried numerous times this year to do any type of interview with Nomsa Chabeli. It proved fruitless.
The last time I asked the SABC was last week (twice in December), and was then told, after being told during the year that she is constantly too busy, that Nomsa Chabeli "is not available for now".
If there are any print interviews with Nomsa Chabeli in future, reach out and I will add then with links, here, below for the benefit of all readers:
