Johannesburg - The SABC is one step closer to filling the vacancy left by disgraced former chairwoman Zandile Tshabalala after the shortlisting of five candidates, who include a former board chairman and an adviser to a former police minister.
Parliament’s communications oversight committee on Tuesday concluded the shortlisting of the five candidates to fill the vacancy left by Tshabalala who left in December under a cloud after she was found guilty by Parliament of having lied about her qualifications.
The shortlisted candidates are Ashwin Trikamjee, Dr Ntombizandile Carol Lesame, Jennifer Anne Irish-Qhobosheane, Sasha Janine Hickey and Keabetswe Modimoeng.
Former board member Lumko Mtimde made the list at first, but was later removed as a possible candidate because he submitted details of his qualifications too late, according to committee chairwoman Joyce Moloi Moropa.
The successful candidate will form part of the pool of board members where the permanent replacement for Tshabalala will ultimately be selected by President Jacob Zuma.
“The committee received 96 nominations and subsequently shortlisted five candidates. The interviews are scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 2,” said Moloi Moropa.
There was nothing untoward regarding Mtimde’s exclusion, she said.
“Not at all. You will know that we attempted to shortlist him and you can look at his qualifications. He just became too slow.
“He does have the qualifications and the only problem is that we couldn’t get documents on time,” said Moloi Moropa.
During his previous tenure on the board, Mtimde was against the employment of controversial chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng and was involved in a board motion calling for his removal.
Mtimde is also understood to be close to Cosatu and the ANC, and his exclusion could be seen by some as the SABC battle rearing its head again.
ANC MP Big Boy Kekana said Mtimde’s qualifications arrived “very late”.
“We must make sure that everything must belong where it belongs. Like Lumko Mtimde, some of the qualifications arrived very late and he was rejected.
“We are following the law,” said Kekana.
Political Bureau