A timeline of DoC scandals

·16 Jul 2014

The communications ministry has been dogged by a number of scandals over the past several years including allegations of fraud, mismanagement, and cronyism.

Following the recent announcement of Faith Muthambi as the new minister of communications, many hoped she would follow in the footsteps of her predecessor, Yunus Carrim.

Carrim made significant progress in turning the troubled Department of Communications around in just nine months. And Carrim’s record reputation remained squeaky clean during his brief tenure.

Unfortunately, it did not take long for Muthambi to be implicated in scandal – the appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as SABC COO.

The Sunday Times reported that that new minister lied to the SABC board to appoint Motsoeneng as SABC COO.

According to the newspaper, Muthambi ignored the fact that no formal settlement was reached with former SABC COO Mvuzo Mbebe, meaning that Muthambi may be in contempt of court.

The Sunday Independent reported that Muthambi is set to appear before a parliamentary committee to explain her ratification of Motsoeneng’s appointment as SABC COO.

Communications committee chairperson Joyce Moloi-Moropa confirmed the minister would appear before the committee.

Muthambi therefore finds herself in hot water less than two months after she took office.

MyBroadband has compiled a list of previous communication ministers, and how long it took before they were involved in their first controversy.

It should be noted that these controversies did not all lead to disciplinary action, and should only be seen as questions about their actions rather than convictions over wrongdoings.

Communications Minister	Appointed	First controversy	Controversy
Faith Muthambi	25 May 2014	13 July 2014	Appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng
Yunus Carrim	9 July 2013	None	None
Dina Pule	24 October 2011	17 June 2012	ICT Indaba scandal
Roy Padayachie	1 November 2010	21 November 2010	Expensive hotel stays
Siphiwe Nyanda	10 May 2009	16 July 2009	Expensive cars