LETTER: Magopeni’s SABC appointment a ray of light

Congratulations to former SABC head of news Phathiswa Magopeni on her delayed appointment to the new SABC board. In a week that laid bare the political rot at the top — clearly demonstrated by the Thabo Bester saga and the R38m military veterans pothole scandal — Magopeni’s appointment is a breath of fresh air.         

Leadershipwise, SA is in trouble. It is no surprise we are greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force. From the presidency down to the entire governing party in parliament, they fought hard to remove Magopeni’s name from the list of SABC board candidates.

The same ANC that keeps recycling corruption-ridden comrades was suddenly quoting the King IV corporate governance report as they threw everything they could at Magopeni. It failed because we are (still) a country of laws, not an Animal Farm. If the ANC has no problem with having Malusi Gigaba and Andile Lungisa in its top decision-making structure, the national executive committee, why would it be scared of Magopeni?

I pray she doesn’t repeat the mistakes of our former liberators who are now our destroyers; that she is an example of servant leadership. The SABC must be brought back to its real owners — the masses. The SABC does not belong to either the ANC or the government. It is supposed to be the people’s voice.

Dr Lucas Ntyintyane
Via email

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