Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Jimmy Manyi and Vusi Mona are among the 51 individuals communications minister Faith Muthambi has chosen to "draw wisdom from" as she embarks on the task bestowed on her - overseeing communication policy and strategy, information dissemination and publicity, and the branding of SA abroad.
The National Communications Task Team (NCTT) - comprising communications, telecoms, marketing and branding professionals and academics - was established earlier this month, as an advisory body to Muthambi, whose former tenure as Makhado municipal manager was mired in controversy.
In her new role - assigned to her by president Jacob Zuma on 25 May - Muthambi has again made headlines for the wrong reasons, this time for her role in the controversial appointment of Motsoeneng as permanent SABC COO. This, despite allegations that Motsoeneng lied about his qualifications, and a recommendation by the public protector that the position be given to a more suitable candidate.
Disreputable deeds
Manyi, too, has been embroiled in a fair share of controversy. Scandal around the former Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS) head ranges from an alleged conflict of interest with the Black Management Forum, to an issue with a European Embassy where Manyi tried to solicit business for his friends, and an attempt to get R1 billion for the Department of Labour, based on a fake budget.
Mona has become a public-facing figure many love to hate, largely due to him being the mouthpiece for under-fire e-toll body, the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral). Earlier this year, the spokesperson was blasted by the online community and had his resignation called for, after he responded to a motorist's query with a sarcastic jibe, insinuating the individual had a low IQ.
But controversy around Mona preceded him when he took the role of Sanral spokesperson in February last year. The English and economics graduate lost his job as editor of City Press in 2003, after publishing a misleading story claiming former national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka had been an apartheid-era spy.
Mona also served under Manyi as deputy chief executive at GCIS, before government decided not to renew his contract in August 2012.
Another contentious character from within the SABC's ranks, former CEO Solly Mokoetle (appointed in December 2009), reportedly caused friction within the SABC board when he appointed Phil Molefe as head of news in June 2010. The appointment was later declared invalid.
Mokoetle was suspended in August that year, amid allegations he had failed to deliver a turnaround strategy for the broadcaster. He resigned in January 2011, citing "irreconcilable differences" with the board.
Honest criticism
Addressing the group last Friday, Muthambi said the respective members had been chosen "because of the sterling work you do in your professions".
The minister called on the members to be honest with the Department of Communications (DOC) "about what we are getting right and what we are getting wrong in dealing with the question of information for the empowerment of our people".
She said the DOC was under no misimpression that the task ahead would be easy, referring to criticism of the department, which has been labelled a state propaganda tool. "We want to hear those criticisms. We did not gather you simply to affirm the direction we have chosen but to help us shape it to move SA forward."
Chief marketing officer of SuperSport, Nomsa Chabeli-Mazibuko, has been elected chairperson of the team, while head of strategy and communication at the SA Reserve Bank, Hlengani Mathebula, has been made her deputy.
Muthambi has given the NCTT a tight deadline, calling for the finalisation of a road map by the end of the month - a task she has assigned to "a smaller team" from among the members. "I will then pronounce on the processes that should unfold, especially when it comes to issues that relate to the structuring of the new department."
* For a full list of NCTT members, including heads of various entities, click here.
Additional reporting by Tyson Ngubeni.
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