'How I'll fix the SABC'

Interviewing of 36 candidates for seats on the board of the SABC began in parliament yesterday with Zola Majavu starting the proceedings with some forthright ideas.

The prominent lawyer and former Premier Soccer League CEO was the first to be interviewed and told parliamentarians that he would ensure that the public broadcaster was run as a business.

He said the problem at the SABC was that some managers put their "cabalistic and political weight, when it's absolutely not necessary" ahead of business principles and ethics.

His background as a lawyer would help him foster strong corporate governance at the SABC, he said.

The board will consist of 12 non-executive members.

One candidate, Claire O'Neil, withdrew before proceedings began.

Also interviewed yesterday were former City of Cape Town communications director Amanda Madikiza, civil society activist Kate Skinner, politician Darkey Africa, former SABC Africa producer Hope Zinde and former music executive Lazarus Serobe.

John Mattison, Merle O'Brien, Lumko Mtimde, Mahmood Mia, Martin Mhlanga, Paul Serote, Ronnie Lubisi and Thembinkosi King Bonakele are all expected to be interviewed today.

Director of Media Monitoring Africa, William Bird, said it was "surprising" to have such a long list of "very good candidates" considering the "shockingly high turnover of SABC boards".

He warned that the new board would have an uphill job in trying to turn around the SABC.

"They need to make sure that they exemplify the highest standards of corporate governance and must display that in action and in communicating issues around good corporate governance," he said.

Also critical was settling on a senior executive management team, Bird said.

At present, Hlaudi Motsoeneng is acting chief operations officer of the SABC, while Jimi Matthews is acting head of news and Tian Olivier is acting chief financial officer.