'Weird' applicants vie for SABC board posts

A certified bricklayer, a policing expert and an entrepreneur who started his own business at the age of six are among the unusual applicants for vacant SABC board positions.

The calibre of applicants for board membership at the public broadcaster came under the spotlight this week as more than 100 people threw their names in the hat for the three positions.

One hopeful, Azwidohwi Nefolovhodwe, claimed in his CV to have opened a store at the age of six.

"I started running a grocery shop at the age of six years. [I] became a paper collector for a year after leaving varsity. I started and ran a liquor store and fish a [sic] chips shop for 3 years," Nefolovhodwe claimed.

Leonard Chuene, the former Athletics South Africa boss, nominated Nefolovhodwe for the SABC board.

Andile Nontso, who obtained a BA degree from the University of Transkei in 1989, is described as a "pioneer of Grade 9 winter school" and has been accredited with a construction certificate in skills such as "bricklaying and plastering".

Then there is Prince Nofemela, who is not ashamed to detail his criminal record.

block_quotes_start You've got very weird applications here. You don't know how a person thinks they are going to be considered block_quotes_end

"In 2007 ... I had responded to a relative's request, who was an inmate in a correctional facility, to cause a sum of R1000 to be delivered to him. The method used turned out to be a violation of the Prisons Act. I was given a sentence of 8 months or R4000 fine," Nofemela wrote.

"I paid the fine. As a result ... I lost my job and I was subsequently unable to fulfil my financial obligations ... I was sequestrated."

He has a law degree from Unisa and teaching qualification from the University of Cape Town.

Other board applicants were nominated by ANC MPs such as Hope Malgas, who nominated advocate Robert Fischat, whom she described as a "practising member of the ANC".

There is also the name of advocate Johannes Weapond, who has a BTech degree in policing. A member of the Limpopo legislature, Maake Emmanuel Sello, is also trying his luck, even though board members are not supposed to hold political office.

Parliament's communications subcommittee, tasked with drawing up the shortlist , was not impressed by the calibre of applicants.

They are now debating whether the committee should head-hunt possible candidates.

Joyce Moloi-Moropa, chairwoman of the communications committee, said MPs drew up a second shortlist of candidates after the first process yielded no results. She said the committee would proceed next week.

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Committee member and EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said many people who applied had no experience in broadcasting or communications.

"You've got very weird applications here. You don't know how a person thinks they are going to be considered," Ndlozi said.

"People from engineering, that deal with water, people that have never crossed paths even with advertising ... It's weird applications."

He now wants head-hunters on the case. "I'm swayed towards the direction that we have not got the correct pool. Because of the reputation of the SABC, people in the field are probably feeling they don't want to be in the SABC, maybe," he said.

DA MP Gavin Davis said he went through 121 CVs and was left unsatisfied. "The 97 submissions that we got previously for the Ellen Tshabalala vacancy and 24 we have just received, I must say they are still slim pickings," Davis said.

"We took five from the first round already to fill that first vacancy and what is left - I'm afraid there is just not enough quality."

He believes industry people are not applying because of the arbitrary removal of board members by cabinet ministers.

ndenzeb@sundaytimes.co.za