Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has referred a request for removal of Media Development and Diversity Agency board member Thembelani Mpakati to Parliament for consideration.
Image: Media Development and Diversity Agency
The future of a board member of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), Thembelani Mpakati, hangs in the balance on the entity’s board of directors.
This comes after Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni referred a request for his removal from the board’s chairperson, Hlengani Mathebula, to Parliament last October.
Ntshavheni said Mathebula submitted a written request on August 30, 2025, citing several allegations against Mpakati.
“The Minister in the Presidency submitted the matter to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament on October 3, 2025, as it is only Parliament that can determine the removal of a member of the board of the MDDA,” she said this week, when responding to parliamentary questions from DA MP Shara Singh.
Singh had enquired whether Mathebula submitted a written request regarding the removal of a board member and the reasons, among other things
This was after the oversight visit by the Communications and Digital Technologies Portfolio Committee to the entity in January.
The committee had in a statement stated that it “observed certain elements of disunity within the board”.
On Saturday, Mpakati said he was unaware about the allegations and the calls for his removal from the board.
“I am hearing them for the first time from you,” he said.
According to Singh, serious governance concerns came to light during direct engagement with the board.
“Critically, the chairperson of the board indicated that he had written to the minister in August 2025 requesting the removal of a board member, yet no response had been received.
“This is not a minor administrative issue, it relates to serious allegations of misconduct at board level,” she said on what prompted her to write to Ntshavheni.
In her written response, Ntshavheni said the allegations against Mpakati centred around racially discriminatory remarks, misogynistic behaviour, failure to adhere to governance standards, and violation of the MDDA code of conduct.
She said one of the allegations was Mpakati's offensive remarks, including the use of the term “Indianisation” to describe the allocation of board members to committees and their participation in MDDA activities.
“Despite being requested to withdraw the term and apologise unconditionally, Mr Mpakati refused to do so, maintaining sentiments that certain racial groups were being favoured on the MDDA board.
“These remarks were deemed racially discriminatory and contrary to the values of inclusivity and respect upheld by the MDDA and the Constitution of South Africa.”
Ntshavheni also said Mpakati allegedly undermined the black female MDDA CEO by making baseless allegations about her competence and conduct.
“His behaviour was described as hostile and obstructive, creating a challenging environment for the CEO and other board members.”
He was also accused of ignoring provisions of the MDDA Act and board Charter, among other things.
Mpakati, whose term expires in February 2027, said he was persecuted for questioning Mathebula’s illegal term of office and the CEO’s irregular appointment.
“Unfortunately, this will not stop me from exposing any wrongdoings at the MDDA.”
He claimed to have fought the capture of MDDA, where sub-committees of the board were flooded by Indians and blacks were not considered.
“My only sin was to characterise the capture as Indianisation of MDDA. I was then painted as a racist and got isolated. I have retracted the use of word but refused to retract the statement that Indians were capturing MDDA at time the incident happened.”
Regarding misogyny allegations, Mpakati said there was a legal opinion that advised the board to reconsider the CEO’s appointment in line with recommendations of the Auditor-General.
“Given the two reports above, how can I be ‘making baseless allegations about the MDDA CEO’s competence and conduct’? The push to remove me from MDDA has everything to do with trying to silence me and any voice of reason at MDDA.”
It was not immediately clear how far Parliament has gone to process the request for Mpakati’s removal.
Reggie Ngcobo, spokesperson for National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, said the matter should ordinarily be considered by the portfolio committee.
Ngcobo referred questions to portfolio committee Chairperson Khusela Sangoni-Diko, who could not be reached for comment.
Her cellphone was switched off and she had not responded to questions sent to her at the time of publishing.
Singh said Ntshavheni confirmed that she referred the matter to Didiza’s office last October.
“This delay is simply unacceptable. It reflects a pattern of slow or absent executive action when decisive leadership is required.”
Singh wrote to Sangoni-Diko on Saturday enquiring about the legal process to be followed, timelines, and reasons for the delay.
“While the executive appears to have dragged its feet, it has fallen to Parliament to bring this issue into the open,” she added.
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za