The saga surrounding the appointment of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) CEO has deepened, with the former board chairperson denying that members ignored an audit finding that the person appointed was not qualified for the role.
The MDDA is a government agency that funds community and small commercial media.
Asked to explain why the board he had chaired had ignored an audit opinion that resulted in the organisation being slapped with a non-compliance finding for the 2023-24 financial year regarding CEO Shoeshoe Qhu’s appointment, Hlengani Mathebula said there was no such audit finding.
“I am not aware that there exists an audit opinion from the AGSA [Auditor-General of South Africa] on the matter. Final audit opinions as expressed by the AGSA for 24/25 and 25/26 have been presented to Parliament and these make no findings about the CEO. Your paper ran this story while I was board chair; we reiterated then that a leaked management report isn’t an audit opinion.
“Reliance must always be placed on the final published AGSA opinion. I suggest you approach the entity to get a current and factual position, which is authorised,” Mathebula, said in a written response. He is now the administrator of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
Mathebula remained adamant there was nothing irregular about Qhu’s appointment, despite the existence of a separate legal opinion that backed the audit opinion; an investigation by the Office of the Public Protector, including correspondence directed to him requesting information and evidence “into the irregular appointment of the CEO”; and court action instituted by a senior MDDA official challenging the appointment.
Mathebula said the court application had little chance of succeeding. “There is simply no basis in law or fact that the appointment was irregular. I may not be surprised that they are withdrawing the matter from court because they can’t sustain their challenge to that appointment.
“If my opinion were sought, I would encourage them to allow judicial officers to adjudicate this matter and be the final decider. Forum shopping at the expense of a key state institution while damaging its reputation shouldn’t be allowed.”
Last week, the AG again confirmed it had raised a non-compliance finding in the 2023-24 financial year regarding the appointment of the CEO.
The Public Protector also said it was investigating a complaint lodged in March 2025 questioning Qhu’s suitability for the position. In November, a manager in the Public Protector’s office wrote to Mathebula requesting “information and evidence into allegations of the irregular appointment of Ntsoaki Shoeshoe Qhu to the position of chief executive officer by the MDDA”.
In the correspondence dated November 8, which Sunday World has seen, Ponatshego Mogaladi, the executive manager of investigations, requested copies of all documents concerning “the irregular appointment of Ms Qhu”. These included the recruitment and selection policy, the organisational structure, memorandums approving the advertisement of the CEO role; CVs, IDs and qualifications of candidates who applied for the position. Also requested from Mathebula were copies of the interview panel and names of candidates invited for interviews; the memorandum approving the recommended candidate; the AGSA’s report and the legal opinion the MDDA obtained.
Mathebula said his tenure as board chairperson had ended, before referring Sunday World back to the MDDA. “I have no authority to answer on behalf of the MDDA.
“Any attempt on my part to give you responses risks me misleading you, since I have been out of the entity and have no legal basis to represent it in whatsoever capacity.”
Public Protector spokesperson Ndili Msoki said the office would comment after it had completed its investigation.
MDDA spokesperson Ayabulela Poro said the board was engaging with the AGSA’s office and could not comment.
“The board respects the independence of the courts and will not engage in public commentary that may prejudice or interfere with any judicial process, be it by the Public Protector or any other judicial body,” Poro said.
- Former MDDA board chair Hlengani Mathebula denies ignoring audit findings that CEO Shoeshoe Qhu was unqualified, stating no official audit opinion exists on the matter.
- The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) has confirmed a non-compliance finding for the 2023-24 financial year related to Qhu’s appointment.
- The Public Protector is investigating complaints and has requested documentation regarding Qhu’s appointment from Mathebula.
- Legal challenges to Qhu’s appointment have been initiated by an MDDA official, but Mathebula believes these have little chance of success.
- The MDDA board and Public Protector are refraining from public comment pending ongoing investigations and judicial processes.
