Acting SABC executives' appointments extended

12th October 2017 By: Thabi Shomolekae - Creamer Media Senior Writer

Acting SABC executives' appointments extended

Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo

Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo on Thursday extended the appointments of South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) acting executives, all of whose appointments expire at midnight.

In July the interim SABC board appointed Nomsa Philiso as acting group CEO, Bessie Tugwana as the acting COO and Thabile Dlamini as the acting CFO until 12 October 2017. These interim appointments followed the dismissal of COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the resignation of acting CEO James Aguma.

Dlodlo said the acting appointments of the Group CEO, COO and CFO have been extended from Thursday until the vacancies were filled on a permanent basis.

The Department of Communications said in a statement that the Minister was acting in line with Section 13.7.4 of the Memorandum of Incorporation of the SABC, which provides that “any person appointed to act in the stead of the GCEO, CFO and the COO shall only be appointed for a period of three months, subject to any extended period being approved by the Minister”.

On Monday the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse called on President Jacob Zuma to appoint the new SABC board, as recommended to him in September by Parliament, as it was concerned that the President was deliberately dallying on the appointment of the new board for political reasons.

The Portfolio Committee on Communications recommended 12 candidates to Parliament after going through a list of more than 300 applicants, assessing, shortlisting and interviewing candidates. The National Assembly approved the candidates on 7 September and the list went to the President for approval but the process stalled there.

The Presidency said that the delay was not an attempt to change the candidates but that there was a need for due diligence.

Dlodlo said she hoped the extension of the acting appointees will enhance the stability, ensure continuity and facilitate a seamless transition and a proper handover process for the incoming board.