Chris Maroleng Biography | Career | Tenure at SABC | Deportation From Zimbabwe
This is the biography of Chris Maroleng a Zimbabwe-born South African broadcaster and public affairs expert. He has held leadership roles in media, corporate governance, and strategic operations. Currently, he serves as the SADC Executive Director of Good Governance Africa (GGA), contributing to promoting accountability and transparency in the region.
Career
Leadership Roles
Chris Maroleng is the International Chief Executive Officer and SADC Executive Director of Good Governance Africa. With nearly 20 years of experience, he has expertise in strategy, research, media, communication, security, corporate governance, and public affairs.
Maroleng previously served as Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). During his tenure, he worked to implement a turnaround strategy, improve the organisation’s financial health, strengthen governance, and enhance operational efficiency.
Before joining the SABC, Maroleng was Group Executive for Corporate Affairs at MTN, Africa’s largest mobile operator. He played a key role during a challenging period when the company faced significant financial penalties.
He also worked at eNews Channel Africa (eNCA) for six years as Africa Editor and head of the Africa division, where he oversaw the channel’s coverage of regional issues.
Tenure at the SABC
Maroleng succeeded Hlaudi Motsoeneng as COO of the SABC in 2018. However, his term ended in April 2019 after being dismissed for misconduct following an internal disciplinary hearing. Maroleng has since disputed the grounds of his dismissal, alleging procedural unfairness.
He has taken legal action against the SABC, seeking R12 million in damages for what he claims was an unlawful dismissal. His demands include a televised apology during prime time and the declaration of delinquency for the SABC’s board of directors. This case is currently under review by the labour court.
Deportation Incident in Zimbabwe
In August 2023, Maroleng and three colleagues from Good Governance Africa were deported from Zimbabwe two days into their visit. Despite obtaining prior approval from the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria, they were forced to leave while conducting field research on election conditions and challenges in the country.
