The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board after it functioned for 185 days without one.
Ramaphosa finally made the appointments on Tuesday after lengthy delays and legal wrangles.
DA communications spokesperson Dianne Kohler-Barnard said Ramaphosa finally gave in to pressure from Parliament and civil society to appoint the 12-member board.
The board includes former National Youth Development Agency chief executive officer (CEO) Khathutshelo Ramukumba, who has been appointed chairperson, former SABC head of news Phathiswa Magopeni, former journalist Dr Rene Horne and former SABC presenter Mpho Tsedu.
The DA said the delays in appointing the board is the reason Ramaphosa found himself “front and centre” of a Constitutional Court application by civil society for failing to perform his constitutional duties and appoint the board as recommended by Parliament.
Parliament also received a scathing legal opinion on Ramaphosa’s failure to appoint the board when he raised questions about the number of shortlisted candidates.
Kohler-Barnard said the delays were caused by Ramaphosa and the ANC’s objection to newly appointed board member 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.”
Kohler-Barnard said the SABC board had a massive mountain to climb, with debt increasing exponentially and the contracts of the CEO, chief operations officer, and chief financial officer due to expire in just over a month.
Magopeni was dismissed by the SABC in 2022.
-EWN
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