Claims of cadre deployment and conflict of interest ahead of SABC board appointment

Allegations of cadre deployment have been levelled against the ANC, while concerns about a conflict of interest have been raised over the possible appointment of former broadcaster Mpho Tsedu to the SABC board.

Tsedu is an adviser in the Communication and Digital Technology Ministry, led by Khumbudzo Ntshaveni, and is among the 12 candidates chosen to serve on the public broadcaster board.

During the interviews, Tsedu said that if appointed, he would resign from one of the positions.

This week, he told Weekend Argus that the commitment stands.

"I still stand by the commitment that I made twice, that I will relinquish one if I'm appointed; there is no conflict there. I will definitely relinquish the other," Tsedu said.

Meanwhile, the DA has vowed to write to President Cyril Ramaphosa to object to the appointment of Tsedu.

Parliament considered and approved the report on the recommendation to fill the 12 vacancies on the SABC board this week.

The following names are awaiting Ramaphosa's approval and signature: Dr Renee Horne; Advocate Tseliso Thipanyane; Khathutshelo Ramukumba; Professor Franz Krüger; Nomvuyiso Batyi; Phathiswa Magopeni; Aifheli Makhwanya; Magdalene Moonsamy; Rearabetsoe Motaung; David Maimela; Dinkwanyane Mohuba and Tsedu.

The term of the previous board expired in October, paving the way for a new board to be ushered in.

DA MP serving in the communications portfolio, Dianne Kohler Barnard, said the move was tantamount to cadre deployment and would benefit the ANC. She said this was "totally and irrevocably counter-intuitive".

Kohler Barnard also alleged that the recruitment process for the board was rushed.

"I was put on this committee some three months ago, and two weeks later I was on the SABC board sub-committee. I received 120 CVs one day later and the shortlisting of 37 was done the following morning before caucus, and I signed off that afternoon. The full interviews began four days later.

"It was rushed through, despite the fact that this committee had known the date on which the board's term would end for five years," Kohler Barnard said.

Kohler Barnard said that had she known about Tsedu’s employment, she would have voted differently.

Questions sent to communications and digital technology spokesperson Tlangelani Manganyi went unanswered.

The beleaguered public broadcaster recently revealed its losses were around R201 million.

The SABC is among state-owned entities that have raised alarm about being able to continue operating.