/ 16 April 2004

Zikalala is SABC’s news MD

Department of Labour spokesperson Snuki Zikalala has been appointed as managing director of the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) news and current affairs, SABC spokesperson Paul Setsetse said on Friday.

Setsetse said Zikalala will be responsible for the strategic leadership, focus and operational direction of news and current affairs at the national broadcaster.

”Zikalala’s appointment was announced by the group CEO … following the recommendations of a joint SABC board and management interview panel and follows on an extensive search process,” said Setsetse.

Zikalala obtained a BA honours in industrial sociology from the University of the Witwatersrand, and an MA and PhD, both in journalism, from Sofia University, Bulgaria.

Setsetse said: ”In a journalism career spanning over 25 years, Dr Zikalala has held various posts in print, radio and television, and in the case of broadcasting has introduced many electronic innovations, including news on mobile phones and the internet.”

Zikalala has won several awards including Sanlam’s best economics journalist, the South African Medical Association’s best medical reporter and the government’s Communicator of the Year Award.

Zikalala is returning to the SABC from the Department of Labour where he was the senior executive responsible for communications and media. — Sapa