by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster has appointed Moshoeshoe Monare as the new SABC News boss, replacing Phathiswa Magopeni who was fired after an acrimonious breakdown between her, the SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairman Bongumusa Makhathini, who she accused of editorial interference in the newsroom.

After an internal review, which the SABC refused to make public, the broadcaster said that Phathsiwa Magopeni’s accusations against Madoda Mxakwe and Bongumusa Makhathini over editorial interference were baseless.

Moshoeshoe Monare, currently the managing director of operations and corporate services at Arena Holdings is now taking over as the SABC’s group executive for news and current affairs from June 2022.

Moshoeshoe Monare holds a national diploma in journalism from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), a BA Honours degree and a post-graduate diploma in journalism from the University of Witwatersrand, an LLB from UNISA and completed a management advancement programme from Wits Business School.

With 25 years experience in the media industry Moshoeshoe Monare also served on the boards of organisations including Tiso Blackstar, the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) and Publishers Support Services.

He worked as a reporter for the Pretoria News, The Star and the Sunday Times newspapers, as well as the SABC before occupying senior editorial positions as editor of The Sunday Independent, deputy editor of the Mail & Guardian, group political editor of Independent Newspapers, executive editor of The Star and managing editor of The Sunday Times and The Times. 

He also served as a member of the adjudication panel of the Press Council and is a former deputy chairperson of the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF).