The National Press Club has elected its new executive committee and management team.
Ntando Makhubu, news editor of the Pretoria News, has been elected chairperson of the National Press Club, making her the first black female to be elected to this position.
Jos Charle of Capital Media was elected deputy chairperson; Mosidi Mokgele, director at Vhutshilo, was elected as the public relations officer while Tanya de Vente-Bijker has been elected treasurer. Other members of the executive committee are: Willem van de Putte of Independent Newspapers, Milisa Kentane of Sentech, Reynold Thakhuli of SANParks and Tshego Monyamane of Spotlight Media. Lali van Zuydam was appointed secretariat until 2020.
“It is an honour and an exceptional privilege to be entrusted with leading the National Press Club. As an executive committee team, we have the responsibility to make decisions on behalf of our more than 500 members nationally,” Makhubu said. The club will continue to support efforts for a free press, maintenance of high professional standards in the industry, training of young journalists ‐ especially in the community media space ‐ and recognition of newsmakers.
The club will soon announce the date on which President Cyril Ramaphosa, the 2018 Newsmaker of the Year, would receive the award.
Established as the Pretoria Press Club in 1978 and later renamed the National Press Club, the club celebrates its 41st anniversary in 2019.
“Our challenge remains to be relevant in the media industry while offering our members full value through various projects including our networking forums, media briefings and discussion evenings as well as the Newsmaker of the Year function and the Percy Qoboza memorial lecture. The club has faced a challenging year, but I assure members that the National Press Club will remain an important player in the South African media landscape,” said Makhubu.
Mosidi Mokgele
On behalf of the National Press Club
082 447 4238
Ntando Makhubu
076 770 3693