President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally appointed a new SABC board, six months after the term of the previous board ended in October last year. Ramaphosa announced the 12-member board on Tuesday. 

 
WELCOME ON BOARD 

Unisa Chief Financial Officer Khathutshelo Ramukumba was appointed the chairperson of the board and former Independent Communications Authority of SA councillor, Nomvuyiso Batyi, as his deputy. Phathiswa Magopeni who was dismissed by the public broadcaster last year has also returned as a non-executive director. Former EFF MP Magdalene Moonsamy is also part of the board together with former University of Limpopo marketing and communications head Kgalema Mohuba. Mohuba was fired by the university in 2021 after questions were raised on how he managed to achieve two doctorate degrees in two years. An investigation was launched when two anonymous reports came to light about Mohuba allegedly hiring two Zimbabwean nationals to write his Doctor of Commerce. Mohuba denied the allegations. 

DELAYS 

Ramaphosa has received backlash for delaying the appointments of the new board,  mostly from opposition political parties but the President defended himself saying that it was important that the candidates go through a security vetting and legal processes. In a statement, Ramaphosa said: "The SABC is a vital institution of our constitutional democracy. I trust the newly appointed board members will work hard at ensuring that South Africa continues to benefit from a stable, independent and effective national public broadcaster, " He said in terms of Section 13(1) of the Broadcasting Act, 1999 (Act No.4 of 1999) as amended, he appointed the following persons as non-executive members of the Board of SABC for five years effective from the date of the publication of notice in the government gazette.  

DELAYS WERE DELIBERATE 

The Democratic Alliance says they welcome the appointment of the board which was long overdue. "The whole country knows that the delay was caused by the President and former Minister's dislike of a single candidate, Phathiswa Magopeni. As a result, the DA particularly welcomes her appointment. We trust she will do an exemplary job after her shoddy treatment by the ANC. No doubt, many of those higher up in the ANC will be licking their wounds this afternoon," read the statement. " The Board has a massive mountain to climb, with debts increasing exponentially, and the contracts of the CEO, COO and CFO due to expire in just over a month. The DA wishes them luck in their future endeavours and hopes they manage to turn this loss-leader into the public broadcaster it is supposed to be," it concluded.  

The names of the newly appointed board are: 

Dr. Renee Horne; 

Adv Tseliso Thipanyane; 

Mr Khathutshelo Ramukumba; 

Ms. Nomvuyiso Batyi; 

Ms Phathiswa Magopeni; 

Ms. Aifheli Makhwanya; 

Ms Magdalene Moonsamy; 

Ms. Rearabetsoe Motaung; 

Mr. David Maimela; 

Mr Kgalema Mohuba; 

Mr Mpho Tsedu; and 

Ms Palesa Kadi.