Parliament, Friday, 5 June 2026 - The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has expressed a word of gratitude to the outgoing Board Chairperson of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), Prof Hlengani Mathebula, following his final appearance before the committee.
Prof Mathebula led a delegation of the MDDA management when the entity appeared before the committee on Friday afternoon to present its third and fourth quarter performance and financial reports for the 2025/26 financial year.
In his opening remarks, he indicated that this would be his last engagement with the committee in his capacity as Board Chairperson, as his term of office comes to an end on Saturday, 6 June 2026.
The committee has commended Prof Mathebula for his dedicated and principled leadership during his tenure as Board Chairperson, which commenced on 6 June 2021. Members noted that his stewardship coincided with a period of strengthened governance, improved financial management, and renewed strategic focus in advancing the MDDA’s mandate of promoting media development and diversity in South Africa.
In particular, the committee highlighted the significant improvement in the Agency’s audit outcomes under Prof Mathebula’s leadership. The MDDA progressed from receiving unqualified audit opinions with findings in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years to achieving a clean audit opinion in the 2024/25 financial year — a milestone the committee regards as a reflection of strengthened oversight, accountability and sound governance practices.
Committee Chairperson, Ms Khusela Sangoni Diko, said: “The committee wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to Prof Mathebula for his exemplary leadership and steadfast commitment to strengthening the MDDA. Under his tenure, the Agency has demonstrated remarkable progress in governance and financial management, culminating in the achievement of a clean audit outcome in the 2024/25 financial year.”
The committee further acknowledged Prof Mathebula’s role in ensuring organisational stability within the Agency and fostering transparent and constructive engagement with Parliament and key stakeholders. His leadership has contributed to enhancing the institutional credibility and operational effectiveness of the MDDA.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, MS KHUSELA SANGONI-DIKO.
For media inquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Justice Molafo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 424 7481
Email: jmolafo@parliament.gov.za
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