New members join MDDA board

The President of the Republic of South Africa (President Thabo Mbeki) has, in terms of Section 4 (1) (b) of the MDDA Act and as per the recommendation from the National Assembly appointed the following five new Board members with effect from 01 January 2008 for a term of office of three years and five years for the chairperson:

1. Gugu Msibi (Chairperson)
2. Nomonde Gongxeka
3. Siviwe Minyi
4. Prof. Guy Berger

Gugu Msibi replaces Kanyi Mkonza whose term of office expired on the 31st December 2007 with three other Board members. Also, the President acting in terms of Section 4 (1) (c) of the MDDA Act, appointed Baby Tyawa as the fifth member to complement the MDDA Board.

The new members

1. Gugu Msibi holds a BA (Journalism and Economics) from Durban University of Technology, Management Advanced Programme (MAP) Wits Business School, and an MBA (Bond University, Australia). She has filled a number of senior roles in the communications and marketing sectors in South Africa and is also a non-executive director of Powertel, a telecommunications company.

2. Nomonde Gongxeka holds a Diploma in Journalism, various certificates in building Brands and holds a Management Advancement Programme (MAP) qualification from the Wits Business School. Her career in the field of media spans well over 14 years. She has worked extensively in the field of edutainment, communication for social change, both on air as well as in a managerial capacity behind the scenes.

3. Siviwe Minyi holds a BA (HDE) Degree from the University of Cape Town and is currently studying towards a Masters Degree Media Studies. Minyi spent a number of years working with NGOs in the field of democracy education, justice, reconciliation and HIV & AIDS, including a year working with a South African-based donor organisation called Interfund. He is a founder member of Bush Radio and is a pioneer in the emergence of new community media initiatives both as a trainer and producer.

4. Prof. Guy Berger teaches and researches in media development issues, new media, media policy, convergence and journalism education. He writes a column online for the Mail & Guardian and is also active in the South African National Editors Forum. He won the organisation's Nat Nakasa Award for media integrity in 2006.

5. Baby Tyawa is a founder member of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS - 1981). She holds a BA degree in Psychology with Unisa and did her post-graduate studies with the University of Western Cape. Through her studies she was active in the then Federation of Transvaal Women. Tyawa has a Masters Degree (M Ed.) in Educational Psychology from Manchester University in the United Kingdom.