Johannesburg - Controversial former SABC head of news Snuki Zikalala is making a discreet redemption in the public service with his latest job as a member of the advisory council on military veterans.
Zikalala’s name is among 13 members announced by Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula this week to serve on the advisory council.
The council advises the minister on legislation, policy and the affairs affecting military veterans.
Its members serve part-time for five years. It is established in terms of the law to attend to the interests of military veterans.
Zikalala was initially named by Mapisa-Nqakula in a “formidable team” to lead a turnaround at the Department of Military Veterans in September.
The team was “dispatched to support the department for six months with a programme focusing, among others, on addressing the programmatic, structural and policy matters affecting the department’s ability to fulfil its mandate”.
It was also asked to put in place a rescue plan to stabilise operations and ensure quick wins in delivery of benefits such as education support, healthcare, housing and burial support.
Late in September, Mapisa-Nqakula was slapped with a lawsuit for allegedly failing to provide healthcare services to former freedom fighters. The lawsuit was brought by MalikVazi, a former Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) combatant-turned-businessman.
Attempts to obtain comment from Zikalala on his new role were unsuccessful on Wednesday.
During his tenure at the SABC, he was accused of being part of a faction which ensured that news coverage favoured former president Thabo Mbeki in his power struggle with President Jacob Zuma before the 2007 ANC conference.
He was also accused of blacklisting commentators critical of Mbeki's government.
He left the public broadcaster in 2009 amid reports that he had received a taxpayer-funded golden handshake as a farewell gift.
Zikalala served as a member of MK’s central operations in Lusaka, Zambia, between 1976 and 1980 under former defence minister Joe Modise. According to the Military Veterans Act, at least 50 percent of members of the advisory council which Zikalala serves must be military veterans.
The Department of Defence and Military Veterans did not respond to requests for further comment.
Shahid Esau, DA spokesman on defence and military veterans, said the party objected to Zikalala serving on the advisory council.
“Certainly, somebody with a record of such prejudice at the expense of the public to serve not only an ANC agenda but a factional one is not advisable,” he said.
The Star
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