New SABC GCEO, five new MDDA board members

Mokhobo is described as having the relevant qualifications, skills, capabilities and experience required for the position. She has executive leadership experience in both the private and public sectors, previously being the SABC group executive for public broadcasting services.

After obtaining her BA degree from the University of Botswana and Swaziland, she completed her Master of Science qualification at the Utah State University in the US.

SABC board chairperson Dr Ben Ngubane said, "The board is happy that this matter is finished, as it will help the process of turning around the organisation."

For more, go to http://www.timeslive.co.za/entertainment/2012/01/18/new-sabc-chief-gets-the-thumbs-up and http://www.techcentral.co.za/sabc-suspends-its-technology-chief/28573/.

New board members

The new MDDA board members, whose appointments will run for three years from 1 January 2012, are Phenyo Nonqane, Rene Alicia Smith, Jimmy Manyi, Thato Mahapa and Ingrid Louw. This appointment follows a Parliamentary public participatory process through the Portfolio Committee on Communications which recommended two (Smith and Nonqane) of the above five in terms of Section 4 (1) (b) of the MDDA Act.

The other three (Louw, Mahapa and Manyi) are appointed by the President in terms of Section 4 (1) (c) and Section 15 of the MDDA Act from the commercial print media, commercial broadcast media and government.

They are filling the vacancies left after the departure of Phumelele Nzimande, Dr Tanja Bosch and Nebo Legoabe who served their full terms in terms of the Act. Louw and Mahapa were reappointed after accepting re-nomination by the commercial print media and commercial broadcast media.

Commenting on the adverse remarks following the appointment of Manyi, the office of the Presidency has noted reports and statements by some political party that certain individuals such as GCIS CEO Jimmy Manyi should not have been appointed as a board member of the MDDA. It states that the appointments are in terms of Section 4 (1) (c) and Section 15 of the MDDA Act.

It is therefore regrettable, states the Presidency, to imply that the president was not acting within the law or to imply that his decision was ill considered or that the National Assembly did not recommend certain names.