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.