Parties object to Manyi’s appointment

Former government spokesman Jimmy Manyi. Picture: Simphiwe Mbokazi

Former government spokesman Jimmy Manyi. Picture: Simphiwe Mbokazi

Published Mar 13, 2014

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Johannesburg -

Political feathers flew, but the National Assembly confirmed former government spin doctor and ex-Black Management Forum president Jimmy Manyi as a board member of the Media Development and Diversity Agency on Wednesday.

DA MP Marian Shinn objected, saying the appointment was part of the ANC’s attack on the media. But communications committee chairman Sikhumbuzo Kholwane said he would not make excuses for going for a mandate to Luthuli House.

“I do go to a house for a mandate. I’m here representing the ANC and its headquarters is Luthuli House,” he said, adding that Shinn also went to her “blue house”, a reference to the DA colour.

The IFP, Freedom Front Plus and Independent Democrats also objected to Manyi’s appointment.

Manyi sparked a run of unfortunate headlines from saying there was an “over-concentration of coloureds in the Western Cape” during a television discussion in 2010 when he was labour director-general.

He also made comments that the government would centralise its R1 billion ad spend while he headed the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

Daily News

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