Johnathan Paoli
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has appointed Nomsa Chabeli as its new group chief executive officer (CEO) after months of operating without a CEO.
The former SABC CEO, Madoda Mxakwe’s term came to an end in June, making him the first person to complete a contract term in that position at the SABC in 15 years.
The SABC board of directors said it had confidence Chabeli would spearhead the vision that the broadcaster had for the future and that her appointment would help meet the evolving needs of its audience.
Chabeli’s career spans over two decades, with her working at telecommunications companies MTN, SuperSport and Dstv.
She held the position of general manager for brand and marketing at the MTN Group for four years, following four years at MultiChoice, from 2015 to 2018, in which she served as marketing director for SuperSport.
Chabeli also served at SAB, Brand South Africa, GCIS and Edcon. She holds an MBA from Henley Business School and is currently completing a Masters in Digital Business at Wits Business School, the SABC have said.
The SABC has been faced with challenges this year, from not having a board of directors for six months to financial difficulties when they required a bailout from the Treasury.
In a statement, Chabeli said that she would continue to advance its mission as a public broadcaster.
Early this month, the SABC Board presented its corporate plan for the 2023/2024 financial year to Parliament, after reporting a R1.13 billion loss in its annual report for 2022/2023.
This was supposed to have happened in May this year but was delayed because they were only appointed in April.
According to the Auditor General’s latest report on the SABC, the broadcaster is not self-sustainable and is in a dire financial situation.
In a statement, the public broadcaster’s board said Chabeli has the requisite experience, which includes MultiChoice Group, where she was marketing director SuperSport and Dstv.
“From envisioning ground-breaking marketing innovation to fostering a culture of creativity, Chabeli has not only elevated the brands she has nurtured but has also left an enduring impact on the industry,” the SABC said.
The former MTN executive is expected to begin her term in March next year.
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