POLITICS

Independent and qualified candidate needed to replace Ellen Tshabalala - Gavin Davis

DA MP says SABC Board needs a strong and independent chairperson to fight political interference

Tshabalala vacancy: Only independent and suitably qualified candidates need apply

12 February 2015

The Portfolio Committee on Communications has set down Wednesday 25 March 2014 to interview candidates to fill the SABC Board vacancy created by the resignation of Ellen Tshabalala. The deadline to nominate candidates is 27 February 2014.

With more political pressure on the SABC Board then ever, it is vital that a sufficient number of independent and suitably qualified candidates apply. 

If there had been a critical mass of independent Board Members in July this year, Hlaudi Motsoeneng would not have been appointed as SABC Chief Operations Officer. In the end Motsoeneng was appointed by a narrow margin of six Board Members who were in favour, to five who did not support it.

The appointment of a new SABC Board Member is especially crucial in the light of Minister Muthambi's Memorandum of Incorporation that seeks to destroy independent public broadcasting by usurping the powers of the Board. We need a strong and independent Board that will challenge Muthambi's unlawful curtailment of its statutory authority.

Besides the filling of this vacancy on the SABC Board, the Communications Portfolio Committee will also be interviewing candidates for four vacancies on the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa's council, as well as two vacancies on the Board of the Media Development and Diversity Agency. The deadline to nominate individuals for these positions is also 27 February 2015.

Nominations and enquiries regarding all these positions should be addressed to the Committee Secretary, Mr Thembinkosi Ngoma, Portfolio Committee on Communications, 3rd floor, 90 Plein Street, Cape Town, 8000 or emailed to [email protected]. Telephonic enquiries can be made to 021 403 3733 or 083 709 8407.

The advertisements for these positions can be obtained by clicking on the following links: SABCICASAMDDA.

Statement issued by Gavin Davis MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, February 12 2015

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