Zuma is the board’s “appointing body” in terms of the Broadcasting Act.<\/p>\n
The resignations received by the presidency from the communications ministry were those of board deputy chairwoman Felleng Sekha, and members Barbara Masekela, David Niddrie, and Makgatho Mello.<\/p>\n
“President Zuma has thanked the former board members for their contribution to the SABC and wished them well in their future endeavours,” the statement read.<\/p>\n
Last week, Business Day reported that Masekela, former ambassador to France and prominent member of the African National Congress, was the first to resign, followed by Mello, Sekha, and Niddrie.<\/p>\n
The newspaper quoted a “senior SABC official” as having said the board was frustrated with the government’s inaction on the SABC’s woes.<\/p>\n
The board felt isolated, as first the communications department and then Parliament’s communications committee failed to intervene, despite the board on May 22 announcing a breakdown of trust with its chairman Ben Ngubane.<\/p>\n
The breakdown was over Ngubane’s move to appoint Phil Molefe as head of news — while the board was reviewing candidates, it said.<\/p>\n