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The EFF notes the appointment of Chris Maroleng as the new Chief Operations Officer of the public broadcaster, SABC. We welcome the boards’ continued commitment to fill all top executive positions, ensuring that there is stability with full-time appointments.

We want to caution Mr. Maroleng to join in the protection of the SABC from undue political influence, particularly at journalistic decisions of the SABC. The public will expect him to dispense with the disreputable record of Hlaudi Motsoeneng. It is in his position of COO that Motsoeng launched the Public Broadcaster to its knees, servicing the narrow interests of ANC politicians.

We also want to remind him that his appointment means he will preside over the operations of the during 2019 national elections. His important test is to always make sure that the Public Broadcaster is not used to suppress those that challenge the statuesque as it was the case in 2014.

Issued by EFF