Motlanthe appoints new MDDA board members

The MDDA is a statutory development agency for promoting, supporting and ensuring media development and diversity, set up as a partnership between the South African Government and major print and broadcasting media companies, in terms of the MDDA Act No. 14 of 2002. The appointments are according to the terms of Section 4 (1) (b) of the MDDA Act and as per the recommendation from the National Assembly.

Commented Lumko Mtimde, MDDA CEO, “The MDDA takes this opportunity to thank the outgoing Board members, Mr Mazibuko Jara and Mr Chris Moerdyk for their contribution towards the facilitation of development and diversity in the South African media sector and to the promotion of the right to freedom of expression enshrined in our Constitution. Their service has been much appreciated. We look forward to continue our relationship with them.

“The MDDA welcomes the new Board members, commit to working with and supporting them, look forward to their leadership and guidance in the governance of the agency, and wish them all the best in the quest to pursue the mandate enshrined in the MDDA Act.”

The new members will be taking an oath or affirmation in January 2009 committing them to fairness, freedom of expression, openness and accountability, and upholding and protecting the Constitution and other laws of the republic of South Africa.

Ntombela-Nzimande

Ntombela-Nzimande holds a BA (Hons); BA Social Science (Natal). She is the chief people's officer of the SABC and joined the SABC from the Department of Communications where she served as deputy director-general: strategic policy co-ordination, inter-governmental relations and international relations. Prior to that, she was deputy chairperson of the Commission on Gender Equality.

As CPO of the SABC, she oversees the Corporate Affairs and Human Capital Services divisions of the organisation, including functions such as International Affairs, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. She serves on a number of boards and advisory councils including the Human Sciences Research Council and the Council of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Bosch

Bosch completed her undergraduate studies in English and History (BA, Hons) at the University of Cape Town, before working in the local film and community radio sector. She completed her MA in International Affairs while a Fulbright Scholar at Ohio University, where she also graduated with a PhD in Mass Communication. Bosch is former station manager of Bush Radio, and has also worked as a trainer for UNESCO community radio stations in Jamaica and Trinidad; and for Open Society Foundation stations in South Africa.

She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Journalism at Stellenbosch University during 2005-2006, where she also taught radio broadcasting. Her research and teaching interests include: community radio, media and communication for development; health communication, critical theory and cultural studies; qualitative research methods; radio studies and new media.