PARLIAMENT, August 29 (ANA) – The shambolic state of affairs at the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) was laid bare in Parliament on Tuesday.
Briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications, MDDA board chairwoman, Phelisa Nkomo, took the committee through a presentation of the progress made by the agency which was eventually rejected by the committee.
However, when it was acting chief executive officer Donald Liphoko’s turn to speak, it was clear the relationship between the latter and the board was acrimonious.
Limphoko confirmed to MPs that he was locked out of the MDDA’s offices last week, after the board accused him of non-performance, among others.
“I was prevented by security from entering the building.”
He was reinstated in his post, apparently after the intervention of Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, but Liphoko said all his woes were as a result of Nkomo, who continues to accuse Liphoko of incompetence.
The relationship between the executive and board members remained poor, said Liphoko.
“The relationships deteriorated because of the leadership style of board chairperson.”
MPs were left flabbergasted. The African National Congress’s Mziwamadoda Kalako said: “This is really shocking.”
He suggested the delegation appear before the committee again, but with both the minister and deputy minister present.
Democratic Alliance MP Phumzile van Damme wanted Parliament to use its teeth.
“We need to to have an inquiry of the fitness of this [MDDA] board to hold office,” she said.
“We need a forensic audit into all projects that have happened at MDDA.”
Economic Freedom Fighters MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi blamed the board and the executive of schizophrenia.
“You must never think we are fools, we are not fools,” Ndlozi said angrily.
He told members of the board and executive they were destroying the very organisation that was meant to break monopolies in the media industry, ensure media diversity, and give South Africans a voice.
“It’s like a tragic comedy.”
Ndlozi said he was also not convinced by Liphoko’s “cry-baby” attitude.
“Nobody is absolved from responsibility. Come back in a structured manner with the minister,” he told the MDDA delegation.
“That’s my concrete proposal; dismiss these people.”
– African News Agency (ANA)
