Wednesday, October 18, 2017

New SABC board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini quits as chairperson of Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation; says he will focus on 'saving the SABC'.


Bongumusa Makhathini who on Tuesday was appointed by South African president Jacob Zuma as the new chairperson of the SABC board on Wednesday quit as chairperson of the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation‚ a diabetes group.

Bongi Ngema-Zuma is one of the wives of Jacob Zuma and Bongumusa Makhathini serving as SABC chairperson and chairperson of the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation is a conflict of interest.

Bongumusa Makhathini is the head executive for legal at British American Tobacco.

Bongumusa Makhathini confirmed on Wednesday that he quit as Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation chairperson on Wednesday, a day after his appointment as SABC board member.

"I resigned today as promised," said Bongumusa Makhathini, referencing his answer when he was asked during his interview in parliament in September about the apparent conflict of interest, and if he would quit the nonprofit organisation if he were to be appointed to the SABC board.

Bongumusa Makhathini says he will "focus on saving the SABC and to resolve real problems facing our public broadcaster as opposed to debating the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation and my role in the foundation".