ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe conceded yesterday that newly appointed SABC board chairman Bongumusa Makhathini's position as chairman of the first lady's foundation would be a "big issue".
Mantashe said it was up to Makhathini to rise to the occasion and not attract negative comments by ensuring he was not biased in his new role.
"He needs to assure society that he will not be biased," Mantashe said at a press briefing.
President Jacob Zuma's appointment of Makhathini as the new chair of the embattled public broadcaster's board and Febe Potgieter-Gqubule as his deputy sparked an outcry, given their closeness to the president and his family .
Makhathini is the chairman of Zuma's wife Bongi Ngema-Zuma's foundation .
New SABC board chair ‘must resign’ from Ngema-Zuma foundation
Potgieter-Gqubule is spokeswoman and adviser to ANC presidential hopeful and Zuma's former wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma .
Public broadcasting lobby group SOS Coalition welcomed the appointment of the new board but raised concerns over the conflict of interest.
National coordinator Duduetsang Makuse said: "They [Makhathini and Potgieter-Gqubule] need to resign [from working for Ngema-Zuma and Dlamini-Zuma] as we need board members who are neutral. There is a legal obligation for them to ensure there's no conflict of interest."
When Makhathini was interviewed by the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications in August, he indicated that he would consider resigning from the foundation if he were to be appointed to the SABC board.
The nomination of Potgieter-Gqubule was opposed by the DA in parliament.
The DA's Phumzile van Damme said the two were "close allies" of Zuma and his family.
"It is obvious that the president wilfully delayed the appointment of the permanent SABC board because he wanted certain individuals on the board to serve his own interests, not those of the South African public," she said.
Former interim board chairwoman Khanyisile Kweyama and her deputy Mathatha Tsedu return as ordinary members. Other new board members are Krish Naidoo, John Matisonn, Rachel Kalidass, Michael Markovitz, Victor Rambau, Dinkwanyane Mohuba and Jack Phalane.
SABC chair issue for Gwede
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe conceded yesterday that newly appointed SABC board chairman Bongumusa Makhathini's position as chairman of the first lady's foundation would be a "big issue".
Mantashe said it was up to Makhathini to rise to the occasion and not attract negative comments by ensuring he was not biased in his new role.
"He needs to assure society that he will not be biased," Mantashe said at a press briefing.
President Jacob Zuma's appointment of Makhathini as the new chair of the embattled public broadcaster's board and Febe Potgieter-Gqubule as his deputy sparked an outcry, given their closeness to the president and his family .
Makhathini is the chairman of Zuma's wife Bongi Ngema-Zuma's foundation .
New SABC board chair ‘must resign’ from Ngema-Zuma foundation
Potgieter-Gqubule is spokeswoman and adviser to ANC presidential hopeful and Zuma's former wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma .
Public broadcasting lobby group SOS Coalition welcomed the appointment of the new board but raised concerns over the conflict of interest.
National coordinator Duduetsang Makuse said: "They [Makhathini and Potgieter-Gqubule] need to resign [from working for Ngema-Zuma and Dlamini-Zuma] as we need board members who are neutral. There is a legal obligation for them to ensure there's no conflict of interest."
When Makhathini was interviewed by the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications in August, he indicated that he would consider resigning from the foundation if he were to be appointed to the SABC board.
The nomination of Potgieter-Gqubule was opposed by the DA in parliament.
The DA's Phumzile van Damme said the two were "close allies" of Zuma and his family.
"It is obvious that the president wilfully delayed the appointment of the permanent SABC board because he wanted certain individuals on the board to serve his own interests, not those of the South African public," she said.
Former interim board chairwoman Khanyisile Kweyama and her deputy Mathatha Tsedu return as ordinary members. Other new board members are Krish Naidoo, John Matisonn, Rachel Kalidass, Michael Markovitz, Victor Rambau, Dinkwanyane Mohuba and Jack Phalane.
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