However, two insiders with knowledge of the recruitment process have told Business Day that SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng and chairwoman Zandile Tshabalala favour the appointment of SABC consultant and banking executive Frans Matlala to the position.
It is understood that the other two candidates on the list given to Communications Minister Faith Muthambi are acting CEO Tian Olivier and commercial enterprises head Anton Heunis. Olivier has been in the post since March after former CEO Lulama Mokhobo quit amid speculation that she had had a difficult working relationship with Motsoeneng.
Matlala did not respond to requests for comment.
Muthambi's spokeswoman, Bongiwe Gambu, said yesterday that the minister was hoping the appointment of an SABC CEO would be finalised by the end of this month.
"The minister cannot pre-empt when (the) process will be concluded and she has confidence in the board adhering to the deadline," Gambu said. Muthambi has already missed her own deadline to finalise the appointment of a permanent CEO. In June she said the appointment would be made within three months.
SABC spokesman, Kaizer Kganyago, said yesterday the speculation that Tshabalala and Motsoeneng were trying to influence the appointment process, "was neither here nor there" because Muthambi would have the final say. Kganyago confirmed that the final list of candidates had been submitted to the minister.
There are already concerns that a new CEO will merely occupy a "ceremonial position" as Motsoeneng will continue calling the shots. Motsoeneng has survived several attempts to remove him from his position. In July his appointment as chief operating officer was confirmed on a permanent basis despite the public protector having found that he had lied about having a matric, purged senior staff and irregularly increased his own and certain staff members' salaries.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has approached the High Court in Cape Town to challenge Motsoeneng's appointment.
The public broadcaster's image was also dealt a heavy blow when Tshabalala's own qualifications were queried. She is scheduled to appear before a parliamentary hearing this week to answer claims that she misrepresented her qualifications.
DA communications spokesman Gavin Davis said he understood that the board had submitted three names to the minister who now needed to make a decision.
Source: Business Day via I-NET Bridge
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