The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday said it hoped the appointment of a new CEO at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) “is a case of better late than never”.

Frans Matlala was on Wednesday announced as the broadcaster’s new head‚ the DA noted‚ “exactly one year and one week after (communications minister) Faith Muthambi promised that a new CEO would be appointed within three months”.

The party’s communications spokesperson‚ Gavin Davis‚ said he “tentatively welcomes” Matlala’s appointment‚ especially after he told media on Wednesday “that creating cults around managers does not yield good results”.

This‚ Davis claimed‚ “can only be interpreted as a thinly veiled criticism of the personality cult that (SABC COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng has created around himself”.

“The key to Matlala’s success in this new role is for him to quickly stamp his authority as the top administrator at the SABC. Already‚ the signs are good that Matlala will put Motsoeneng in his place‚” said Davis.

“Matlala has an opportunity to learn from the experiences of his predecessor‚ Lulama Mokhobo‚ who resigned as CEO after just eleven months.

“The public protector found that Mokhobo’s position was made untenable by Motsoeneng’s campaign to bully and undermine her.”

Davis also hoped Matlala’s “private sector experience” would help him “find some innovative solutions to the challenges the SABC faces”.

One issue about Matlala’s appointment that needs to be urgently addressed is the SABC board’s lack of a quorum – with only three members‚ it is three short – “it requires to make legally binding decisions such as the appointment of a new CEO.”

“The DA is looking into this‚” Davis said.