Letter to the National Assembly: SOS Urgent the National Assembly to Reject Conflicted Candidates for the SABC Board Recommendations

1.1. The SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition (SOS) is a non-profit, civil society coalition that represents a range of organisations and concerned individuals. It advocates for the presence of robust public service media dedicated to broadcasting quality, diverse and citizen-orientated content to deepen South Africa’s constitutional values and principles.

1.2. In addition to the concerns we had raised in the letter that was sent to the National Assembly on 30 November 2022 about two candidates, namely:

• Mr Dinkwanyane Kgalema Mohuba, it is alleged that he hired two foreign nationals to write his doctorate thesis at the University of Limpopo (where he was the spokesperson). The matter was heard in the High Court, which ruled in favour of the university. Mr Mohuba has appealed the matter, however, the fact remains that the his appointment will taint the integrity of the Board; and

• Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi, who is currently the CEO of the Association of Communications and Technology (ACT) an organisation that “aims to look after the interests of Africa’s major telecommunications operators”. Given that the SABC has fully geared into digital and online spaces, this makes the telecommunications operators a direct competitor to the SABC. Moreover, Vodacom, is a key member of the ACT, and on 20 May 2022, it litigated in favour of the Analogue Switch-off (ASO) date in the remaining provinces, which would see the SABC lose 68% of its audience.

1.3. The SOS Coalition urges the National Assembly to make Mr Mpho Tsedu’s recommendation conditional upon his resignation as a special advisor to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies . As Mr Tsedu is currently employed as the special advisor to the Ministry which plays an oversight role to the SABC, this is a clear conflict of interest that stands to compromise the independence and integrity of the Board, to say nothing of Mr Tsedu.

1.4. The Coalition submits that adherence to the qualification requirements set out in the Broadcasting Act, 1999 requires that:

• Mr Mohuba not be recommended, at this stage;
• Ms. Batyi be recommended on condition that she resigns as the CEO of the Association of Communications and Technology (ACT) ; and
• Mr Tsedu be recommended on the condition that he resigns as the advisor to the Ministry.

1.5. SOS submits that the SABC Board must be independent and credible for it to adequately fulfil its role as the public broadcaster.

1.6. SOS’s rights, as a public interest organisation, reserves its rights to take recommendations by Parliament on review should these be at odds with the requirements of the Broadcasting Act.

Yours Sincerely

UYANDA SIYOTULA

National Coordinator

060 691 2462

SOS URGES THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO REJECT CONFLICTED CANDIDATES FOR THE SABC BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS