The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has recommended Ms Moipone Malefane and Dr Natalie Skeepers for appointment on the Board of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).
There are two vacancies on the MDDA Board currently, and the committee was tasked with recruiting suitably qualified individuals to be considered for appointment in terms of section 4 of the MDDA Act 14 of 2002.
On 8 April this year, the committee, in line with the Act, published an advertisement inviting members of the public to submit nominations.
A total of 159 nominations were received and screened, followed by a shortlisting of nine candidates. The shortlisted candidates were interviewed on 15 July 2025.
On Friday (25 July) morning, the committee deliberated on the outcomes of the interviews and agreed to recommend Ms Malefane and Dr Skeepers.
The committee Chairperson, Ms Khusela Sangoni Diko, thanked all the interviewed candidates. She said that the interviewed candidates collectively possessed a tapestry of knowledge, experience and skill set required on the MDDA Board.
The committee report will be tabled in the National Assembly for adoption, and once adopted, it will be forwarded to the President for his appointment in terms of section 4(1)(b) of the MDDA Act.
Africa Fact: Lalibela is not the only place in Ethiopia to have such wonders. A cotemporary archaeologist reports research that was conducted in the region in the early 1970’s when: “startling numbers of churches built in caves or partially or completely cut from the living rock were revealed not only in Tigre and Lalibela but as far south as Addis Ababa. Soon at least 1,500 were known. At least as many more probably await revelation.”
Africa Fact: In 1209 AD Emperor Lalibela of Ethiopia sent an embassy to Cairo bringing the sultan unusual gifts including an elephant, a hyena, a zebra, and a giraffe.
Africa Fact: In Southern Africa, there are at least 600 stone built ruins in the regions of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. These ruins are called Mazimbabwe in Shona, the Bantu language of the builders, and means great revered house and “signifies court”.

Petite Flurry
Fun South African Fact: The South African flag was used for the first time on Freedom Day 1994.
Dora the Destroyer
I told my dad to embrace his mistakes. He cried, then he hugged me and my sister