MDDA funding at board's discretion – Pahad

The new board consists of Gugu Msibi as chairperson, Prof Guy Berger, Nomonde Gongxeka, Siviwe Minyi, Baby Tyawa, Chris Moerdyk, Connie Molusi, Felleng Sekha and Mazibuko Jara.

Prior to that, Pahad thanked the outgoing board led by Khanyisiwe Mkonza, who has since been appointed by President Thabo Mbeki as the new chairperson of the SABC new board, replacing Eddie Funde.

Speaking to the audience, Msibi said, “I am humbled by this responsibility bestowed on me and the fellow new board members by President Mbeki and the Parliament.

“I hope that with the support of the fellow members, CEO Lumko Mtimde and his team, the media and the broadcasting industry at large and all of you as shown through your presence today, we will succeed.”

“More resources desperately needed”

Mkonza said: “As the needs grow out there, more resources are desperately needed to satisfy those needs, and I firmly believe that this new board is more than capable to meet any kind of challenge that come their way.”

GCIS CEO Themba Maseko said in closing remarks: “We will try our best as Government to increase the agency's resources to ensure that its fundamental objective, which is to develop community media and build an environment where a diverse, vibrant and creative media flourishes, is achieved.

In 2007, Government's funding of the MDDA amounted to R11 million and this year it will be R14 million, according to Mtimde.

“This is quite a considerable increase, given that we only started with R5 million in 2004,” outgoing chairperson Mkonza said.

The list of MDDA partners is as follows: SABC, Primedia, Midi TV (e.tv), M-Net, Independent Newspapers, Media24, Kagiso Media, Caxton Group and Avusa (ex-Johnnic Communications).

The event took place at the Sunnyside Hotel in Parktown, Johannesburg.