Sentech chairman, directors reappointed

By Christelle du Toit, ITWeb senior journalist

Johannesburg, 15 Aug 2008

Despite a barrage of criticism, three key players on the Sentech board, including the chairman, have been reappointed.

This week, Cabinet approved the reappointments of Collin Hickling as chairman of the Sentech board, Dr Len Konar as non-executive director, and Thabo Leeuw as non-executive director.

This is despite criticism earlier this year that the Sentech leadership was not stepping up to the plate and that the body lacks accountability.

According to the Sentech Web site, Hickling is chairman of the Public Trustees and Trust Corporation, and a trustee of various other trusts. He is director of Pangbourne Properties, Paforma Property Finance, and MR Trustees and Executors.

Konar is a chartered accountant and holds a BCom and post-graduate diploma in accounting (University of Durban-Westville), a Masters of Accounting Sciences degree (Illinois, US), a certificate in tax law (Unisa) and a Doctorate in Commerce (Accounting) from Unisa.

Leeuw holds an Honours Bachelor of Accounting Sciences (Unisa) and a management advancement programme diploma (Wits). He also wrote the Institute of Stockbrokers exam.

Other appointments included that of Dr Yvonne Muthien and T Mashigo as non-executive directors to the board of Sentech.

In February, Sentech's budget was cut by 44%, to R350 million for 2008/9, from the R625 million it received in 2007/8.

Commenting on the reduction in funding, a treasury official said: "The budget slash is there to raise alarm bells in the organisation about its management. At this stage, we do not have the confidence that large sums of taxpayer money would be appropriately used."

Sentech's short- to medium-term projects include investments in the East Africa Submarine Cable System and the National Wholesale Broadband Network, for which it will receive no assistance. Projects, which have allocations approved, include broadcast digitisation (R150 million) and the 2010 FIFA World Cup (R200 million).

However, in February, a treasury official said: "If you look at 2010, Sentech is not really that critical. It is just providing backup satellite facilities."

At the time of publication, treasury had not responded to media queries about the board appointments, while Sentech declined to comment.