Felleng Sekhas recent appointment as chair of the Independent Broadcasting Authority could give it direction. Ferial Haffajee interviews her
Youre 29 years old. Are people fixated with your age? Ive just turned 30, actually. No, not really. The only time my age became an issue was in the media.
What qualifies you for the hot-seat you now hold?
I walked into a very messy situation and we [she and councillor Lutando Mkumatela who joined the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) in November last year in the middle of the scandal] were seen as the voice of reason. People started seeing us as saviours and now I have the overwhelming support of the staff.
I also chaired the National Telecommunications Forum, where I learned to deal with disparate interests; and those people were managing directors and chief executive officers … so this is easy.
The problems of the IBA can be solved. All the reporting has concentrated on the superficial. The IBA had to hit the ground running in 1994 and the actual implementation wasnt well planned.
You inherited a very controversial organisation. It was financially mismanaged and many view it as a huge gravy-train. Did you think hard before taking the job?
Yes, I did. I was in a dilemma. I withdrew from the nomination list. But then I was persuaded by the staff at the IBA to stay on and make it work. My mother was very unhappy. She said Youre qualified. You can get a job elsewhere.
The IBA never had proper administration from the chief executive officer. All along there were people saying they never had proper job descriptions. The IBA can only award across-the-board salary increases, but there must be a performance-based award too.
The IBA has an image problem. What steps are you taking to fix that?
Weve tried to highlight the successes of the IBA. We have licensed 80 community stations which has created many jobs. And weve also licensed eight commercial station , which has made community radio a fertile hunting ground for the commercial stations. Weve opened up broadcasting as a career and investment in broadcasting as a whole.
Only one of our decisions has ever been taken on review.
There are also tighter controls on finances. Were cutting down on lavish expenses … these are going [pointing at a television set in her office]. We have to have a TV at home [paid for by the IBA]; but I never watched the one here. We also only travel in economy class now.
You know, each of these [councillors] offices has a bar-fridge. Theyre not stocked any longer. [How often were they stocked before? she asks her personal assistant Joyce Seroto. Every month or maybe every two weeks … it depended on if it was empty, replies Seroto.]
What car do you drive?
A burgundy Audi A4 2.8.
There was large-scale abuse of company credit cards by some previous councillors. Do you use yours with care?
Ive never had a company credit card.
What are the IBAs biggest tasks for the next year?
We have to license Capital Radio [the mothballed commercial station in Durban] and one other private radio station. Then theres private TV and the four-year licences for community radio stations. The major issue is the merger between the IBA and the South Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.
The one ordinary people are watching is the new free-to-air television licence. When is that likely to be granted?
By March next year.
Do you think we have a true public broadcaster in the SABC?
Hhhmmm! do you think the SABC is a public broadcaster?! Its getting there. The educational programmes you have on television are good. Television is now much more all-encompassing. I can identify more with it. The problem is that if the government wants a public broadcaster it must fund it. But the SABC has been told to be self-reliant; so well be stuck with this hybrid.
What are your favourite television programmes?
Caroline in the city. I also love Seinfeld. I dont like soapies that much, though I used to watch Generations. I really like Focus Features on Africa.
Do you know its been chopped?
Its sad. That was the best thing Ive seen coming out of the SABC in a long time. Thats the sort of thing the government should be funding.
What is your favourite radio station?
In the morning I alternate between SAfm and 702. I also listen to Lawrence Dube on Kaya in the morning. I listen to Kani-FM and sometimes catch Alex FM [two Gauteng-based community radio stations]. I listen to the Voice of Soweto when Im at my mums place.
Theyre falling into the pattern of going commercial. Weve had to come down very hard on Voice because of that. [The IBA recently warned the Voice of Soweto that it was violating its licence conditions.]
What are you reading at the moment?
Im quite an eclectic reader. Ive just finished John Grishams The Partner. John Matisonn [a fellow councillor] loaned me a copy of Che Guevaras biography. I also find time for romantic novels. Ive always been a bookworm. I went through a party phase at varsity, but Im back to my books now.
There is a debate raging currently about the Eurocentric whiteness of the mainstream media. Do its detractors have a point?
Yes, they do. Some journalists dont take time to understand the issues and the coverage of the IBA is a typical example. Just because you are black, you have to work four times as hard. For example, after the appointment of the new council, there was an article saying that only the four white members were qualified for the job. They forgot that Lutando and I are from the corporate environment. We were never given credit for condemning mismanagement. Theres a perception that black managers are inefficient, under-qualified and corrupt.
Lets lighten up a little. Who would you take to a desert island?
[Without hesitation] Connie! [Her husband, Connie Molusi who is representative to Jay Naidoo, the Minister of Posts, Telecommunication and Broadcasting.
Besides him, what are your other passions?
I enjoy making jewellery. Im into interior decorating Im doing a course and African art. I enjoy collecting Alf Nthimbane and Godfrey Ndaba.