The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) is pleased to welcome three new board members. The incoming Board members were officially appointed by His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, following, a rigorous selection and interview process by the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies.
The Board members, Jayshree Pather, Thembelani Mpakati and Qondile Khedama bring a broad set of skills, ranging from Legal, Accounting, Research, Policy, and Capacity Building, as well as Media and Communications to the MDDA Board, to enhance the oversight function role of the Board.
Jayshree Pather is a development and community media expert with over 25 years of experience working on the intersection of development and the community media sector. As an independent consultant for the past ten years, her experience spans research, policy, training/capacity-building, and materials development for a range of national, regional, and international organisations. Since 2014, Jayshree has been a trainer at Wits Radio Academy, where she leads a foundational course on media policy and legislation for the Advanced Radio Certificate program. Additionally, in 2020/2021, she oversaw a training program on digital campaigning tools for 50 African participants across 18 countries in collaboration with US-based Social Movement Technologies (SMT) on behalf of WoMin.
She was the first Project Director at the MDDA between 2006 and 2009 and has served on the boards of Sonke Gender Justice Project and ABC Ulwazi. She has several published articles including a Future Proofing Guide for Community Radio for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), a briefing note on community radio for SANEF’s Independent Panel of Inquiry into Media Ethics and Credibility and chapters on community radio in the State of the Newsroom (2014 and 2024). Jayshree has a M.SC in Development Planning from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Thembelani Mpakati holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree and a National Diploma in Cost and Management Accounting (CCMA) from UNISA and Walter Sisulu University respectively. He has worked at the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and National Treasury, amongst others. He is the Director and Founder of Mpakati Attorneys based in Pretoria. He has gained good experience in litigation, investigations, legal compliance, good governance, audit, and risk management.
He serves as a Parole Board Member of the Free State and Northern Cape Regions under the auspices of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). He also serves as Deputy Chairperson of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL) in Tshwane. As a practicing attorney and human rights activist, he has acquired sufficient skills to be able to represent members of the public and actively mediate in terms of applicable rules and legislation.
Qondile Khedama holds an Advanced Diploma in Public Management from the Central University of Technology, a Programme in Management Development for Municipal Finance as well as Developmental Communications. He holds a variety of other certificates covering Digital Marketing, Public Relations and Leadership, Feature Writing, Newspaper Management, Project Management and Events Managements among others.
He is currently Head of Communications for the Mangaung Metro Municipality and a contributor to the PAN African Foundation (PAN), University of the Free State, Centenary Public Lectures as well as Eyewitness News (EWN). During the course of his career, he has won a number of awards, including, PMR Best Marketed 2016 Municipality, 2017 SADC Media Award.
Indicating that their presence and expertise will go a long way in advancing the work of the MDDA Board, the MDDA Board Chairperson, Prof Hlengani Mathebula, has voiced confidence in the recently appointed members. Their collective expertise and presence are poised to significantly bolster the Agency’s mission of establishing itself as a formidable force in championing development and diversity within the community media sector.
“We are pleased with the appointment of the new Board members, and we look forward to welcoming and working with them to advance the mandate of the MDDA. We remain committed to exercising due oversight of the Agency including promoting good corporate governance and financial prudence as we continue to undertake our fiduciary duties”, said MDDA Board Chairperson.
